Tao Geoghegan Hart abandons Paris-Nice 2021
The Brit was forced to retire after a crash on the approach to the final climb
Tao Geoghegan Hart has abandoned Paris-Nice 2021 after a crash on stage four.
The reigning Giro d’Italia champion went down on the approach to the final climb of the day, while descending near the front of the bunch.
Geoghegan Hart went down as the peloton descended from Mont Brouilly around 20km from the finish in Chiroubles, as he lost traction on a right hand bend and the wheels slid out from under him.
After bouncing up and quickly rejoining the bunch, Geoghegan Hart sat up shortly after.
The Ineos Grenadiers rider was then forced to leave the race, organisers confirmed shortly after.
In a statement on social media, Ineos Grenadiers said: "Not our race this year. Sadly stage four concludes at Paris-Nice without Tao Geoghegan Hart.
"The young Brit was forced to abandon following a crash in the closing kilometres.
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"He will now head to hospital for further assessment. Medical update to follow later."
Ineos sports director Gabriel Rasch said: "On the descent his front wheel slipped in the corner. He was in fourth position.
"It was really bad luck. I don't know if there was some gravel or why he slipped.
"He landed on his face, head and knee pretty badly and he felt a bit dizzy. We thought it was the right decision to stop him."
Rasch added: "[The rest of the team] waited at the back of the peloton until they saw what state Tao was on.
"I told them to carry on and do their very best."
Ineos have suffered a tough opening four stages to the 2021 Paris-Nice, after Richie Porte was forced to abandon following a crash on stage one.
>>> Primož Roglič launches blistering attack to take overall lead on stage four of Paris-Nice 2021
Geoghegan Hart stayed out of trouble on the opening two sprint stages, but slipped back in the general classification in the individual time trial on stage three.
The best-placed rider overall for Ineos in Paris-Nice is now Dylan van Baarle in 19th-place, 1-43 down on the race leader.
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Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
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