Chris Froome's Giro d'Italia challenge got off to a bad start after he crashed whilst carrying out a recon of Friday's opening time trial course.
The Team Sky rider appeared to loose his balance taking a corner quickly on the streets of Jerusalem which will host the 9.7 kilometre race opener.
A cut to his right knee, ripped shorts and jersey suggest a fairly significant bump, though he was back on his feet whilst his bike was inspected for damage.
The Team Sky rider didn't appear to have any major injuries, but was filmed limping away from the course.
Froome has clearly stated his intentions to win the race; if he does so he'll have consecutive wins at the Tour de France, Vuelta a España and the Italian race to his name. However, with an on-going anti-doping case also in his name, there's been a lot of external factors involved in his run up to the race.
Froome said that he's put all of that out of his mind: “for me, I’ve mentally put all that aside.”
“To be here on the start line, I am only thinking about winning the race... I am here to give my absolute best in the next three weeks to try to step on that top step when we reach the finish in Rome,” he said.
There will be live TV coverage of the time trial from 11.30am BST on Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Player.
The crash took place hours before the race start, and Team Sky and Chris Froome are yet to comment on his condition.
Michelle Arthurs-Brennan is Cycling Weekly's Tech Editor, and is responsible for managing the tech news and reviews both on the website and in Cycling Weekly magazine.
A traditional journalist by trade, Arthurs-Brennan began her career working for a local newspaper, before spending a few years at Evans Cycles, then combining writing and her love of bicycles first at Total Women's Cycling and then Cycling Weekly.
When not typing up reviews, news, and interviews Arthurs-Brennan is a road racer who also enjoys track riding and the occasional time trial, though dabbles in off-road riding too (either on a mountain bike, or a 'gravel bike'). She is passionate about supporting grassroots women's racing and founded the women's road race team 190rt.
She rides bikes of all kinds, but favourites include a custom carbon Werking road bike as well as the Specialized Tarmac SL6.
Height: 166cm
Weight: 56kg
Michelle Arthurs-Brennan on Instagram
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