Astana's Tanel Kangert, who sat seventh place on general classification ahead of stage 15, has been forced to abandon the 2017 Giro d'Italia after a horrendous crash with 10km to go on the stage.
The Estonian was riding within the main peloton when he ploughed straight into a traffic island in the middle of the road as the bunch came of a roundabout in the northern Italian city of Bergamo.
He sat on the ground immediately after the incident, which saw him thrown forward over his handlebars and crashing to the tarmac, clutching his left elbow as he waited for team support.
Astana later confirmed that their best placed rider on GC had suffered a broken elbow in the incident and would not be able to continue the race.
Having started the race with only eight riders after the tragic death of Michele Scarponi, now have seven riders within the race who will continue to look for stage wins in the difficult mountain stages of the third week.
Luis Leon Sanchez, who was in the breakaway when Kangert's crash occurred, has taken Astana's best result at this Giro with a third place finish on stage eight of the race.
-
-
Tom Pidcock manages top-five finish at MTB World Cup after overtaking 70 riders and suffering puncture
Back on the mountain bike, Tom Pidcock is impressing ahead of this summer's Tokyo Olympic Games
By Jonny Long •
-
Doping ban for former Trek-Segafredo rider upheld after his appeal fails
The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the four-year ban for the 36-year-old
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Miguel Ángel López out of Giro d’Italia after suffering wound very close to artery in TT crash
Miguel Ángel López is out of the Giro d’Italia after suffering a wound very close to an artery during a time trial crash.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Pello Bilbao wins rapid stage seven of the Giro d'Italia 2019
Valerio Conti holds on to the pink jersey after an unrelenting day of racing
By Jonny Long •
-
Giro d'Italia dedicates Mortirolo climb to 'great champion' Michele Scarponi
Passo del Mortirolo climb to be dedicated to Michele Scarponi, who died after a collision with a van during a training ride on April 22
By Nigel Wynn •
-
Astana decide not to replace Michele Scarponi in Giro d'Italia line-up
Astana have decided that they will start with only eight riders at the Giro d'Italia after Michele Scarponi was killed in a training crash last week.
By Henry Robertshaw •
-
Astana manager happy not to have Chris Froome at the Giro d'Italia to 'ruin the party' for his rivals
Astana manager Giuseppe Martinelli says he believes Chris Froome could be so dominant at the Italian Grand Tour that he hopes he always stays at the Tour de France
By Gregor Brown •
-
Vincenzo Nibali wins 2016 Giro d'Italia as Nikias Arndt awarded final stage
Vincenzo Nibali took the overall classification at the Giro d'Italia as Giacomo Nizzolo secured the final stage victory
By Richard Windsor •
-
Vincenzo Nibali: 'I had to attack'
Vincenzo Nibali talks about his incredible week at the Giro d'Italia
By Gregor Brown •
-
Vincenzo Nibali all but wins the Giro d'Italia with dominant ride on stage 20
Vincenzo Nibali was the dominant force in the overall group for the second day running, putting himself into the pink leader's jersey
By Jack Elton-Walters •
