Mikel Landa apologises after blasting Simon Yates over Giro d'Italia crash
Landa lost over 44 seconds on stage four of the Giro d'Italia
Mikel Landa (Movistar Team) took aim at Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) after the Giro d'Italia riders arrived scraped and bruised. The Spaniard later apologised for remarks made against Yates.
Several crashes marred the fourth stage to Frascati, south of Rome. Yates fell and lost time, and Movistar team leader Mikel Landa broke his bike in half in his crash.
>>> Tom Dumoulin concedes ‘GC is gone’ after disastrous crash on Giro d’Italia stage four
"F***ing Yates, who's an idiot and who was going crazy," Landa told AS. "He took me down in the roundabout."
Yates had said he was fighting for position going into a roundabout at six kilometres remaining in the 235-kilometre stage. He did not mention Landa.
>>> Giro d'Italia 2019 route: stage-by-stage analysis
Landa survived other incidents but finally fell victim. With his Canyon bike smashed, he had to climb on team-mate Lluis Mas's bike.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Salvatore Puccio (Ineos) touched wheels with another rider and triggered a wave of crashes. Sunweb riders, including 2017 winner Tom Dumoulin, and Katusha riders fell during the final, too.
Landa in 2017 with Team Sky won a stage and the mountains classification in the Giro and then placed fourth in the Tour de France. He took aim at Yates.
"It sucks when things happen that do not depend on yourself," the Basque rider added.
"In the time trial, it was my fault, but today I was on the ground due to someone else. It's not how I wanted to start.
"Of course, the sensations are even worse with this disadvantage against you."
Landa had been beside Movistar team-mate Richard Carapaz and race leader Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma). After the crash, Carapaz managed to hold off Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) for the stage win.
"At least some happiness on a bad day," Landa said.
"The crash is no big deal, it's time I've lost again. Now I'm nearly two minutes behind Roglic."
Landa rolled in 42 seconds behind Roglič. It could have been worse considering Dumoulin lost 4-02 minutes. He now sits 1-49 minutes back in the race overall heading into stage five.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Has cycling's most affordable pro bike brand just launched its aero machine?
Van Rysel set to equip Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale with new RCR-F in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Even if you ride a lot, here's why you shouldn't skip leg day at the gym
Think your legs get enough exercise? A little gym time can unlock big strength and performance gains.
By Greg Kaplan Published
-
Simon Yates says he took a pay cut in order to join Visma-Lease a Bike
32-year-old says it was now or never as he gets set to leave Jayco AIUla after eleven years
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mikel Landa the latest to break collarbone at Itzulia Basque Country
The Spaniard follows his team leader Remco Evenepoel in having to leave the stage race
By Adam Becket Published
-
Jayco AlUla set out to win 'every single stage and the GC' at the Tour Down Under
With Simon Yates, Caleb Ewan and Luke Plapp all on one team, the team's big goal for their home race might be in reach
By Adam Becket Published
-
A one-two was always the dream: Simon and Adam Yates' mum on a wild start to the Tour de France
‘There would have been a lot of banter afterwards’ says the mother of the UAE and Jayco-AIUla riders
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Adam Yates: Going one-two with your twin brother at the Tour de France, not many can say that
Adam beats Simon Yates in Bilbao, but says his brother will be a 'pain in the ass' in the coming weeks
By Adam Becket Published
-
Simon Yates misses out on Tour de France selection
Team BikeExchange-Jayco opt for sprint focussed line-up focused on Dylan Groenewegen
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Simon Yates abandons Giro d'Italia with ongoing knee issue
Team BikeExchange-Jayco rider won two stages, but missed out on GC challenge
By Adam Becket Published
-
Simon Yates wins stage 14 of the Giro d'Italia with late attack
The British rider picked up his second stage win of this year's race
By Pete Trifunovic Last updated