Geraint Thomas's Tour de France campaign looked like it was over after the Team Sky rider took a nasty-looking tumble on the descent of the Col de Manse on stage 16.
Giant-Alpecin's Warren Barguil slammed into the side of the Welshman after losing control on a right-hand bend, forcing Thomas off the road and into a telegraph pole.
The race leaders were pushing the pace on the technical descent as they chased Vincenzo Nibali, who attacked over the summit of the climb.
It looked like a serious crash, but Thomas was able to get back on his bike and complete the stage. He lost less than a minute to the group of his teammate and race leader Chris Froome, which also contained Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).
Young Frenchman Barguil, who managed to stay upright in the incident, reportedly apologised to Thomas for the incident after the stage, which was won by Ruben Plaza (Lampre-Merida) from a breakaway and saw Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) take another second place at this Tour.
The descent from the Col de Manse has featured prominently in Tour de France history, with Contador crashing there in 2013 as he tried to put time in to race leader Froome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqhTpmsBARw
-
-
Best Black Friday cycling deals that will save you a fortune
Our ultimate guide on where and how make the most savings on the big discount deal day
By Hannah Bussey •
-
Inside Hell - Behind the scenes at Paris Roubaix Femmes
Cycling Weekly jumped in one of the Drops Le Col team cars to watch the glorious chaos of Paris Roubaix unfold
By Vern Pitt •
-
Will Richard Carapaz ride the Vuelta a España 2021?
The Ineos Grenadiers rider is third overall in the Tour de France, but may already be looking ahead to his next goal
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
'He was just some chav from the Isle of Man when I first met him': Geraint Thomas reflects on Mark Cavendish's history-making Tour de France return
The 2018 Tour de France winner says it's like turning back time seeing the Manxman winning at the Tour de France again
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Geraint Thomas says Tour de France collapse is 'tough on the head'
The Welshman is still battling through injuries sustained in a crash on stage three
By Jonny Long •
-
Tour de France: Geraint Thomas and Primož Roglič dropped early on stage eight
The two riders who were pre-race favourites alongside Tadej Pogačar finished in the grupetto over half an hour after the stage winner
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Tour de France 2021: Geraint Thomas says 'I’m suffering but hopefully I start to feel better soon'
The Ineos co-leader is concerned about the mountain stages this weekend
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Geraint Thomas expects aggressive start to Tour de France mountains: 'We'll see how UAE hold up in the Alps'
The Welshman has promised an exciting race for fans as Ineos and Jumbo-Visma have no option but to attack Tadej Pogačar
By Jonny Long •
-
Geraint Thomas reacts to Mark Cavendish’s Tour de France stage win
'I’ve got to say I was a little surprised...I hope he doesn’t hear me say that, but I thought he always had a chance’
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Early GC time gaps don't make much difference to eventual Tour de France podium, argues Ineos' Michał Kwiatkowski
The Polish super domestique says the British team were prepared to spend more energy early to keep GC riders safe, but even that can prove insufficient at the Tour de France
By Jonny Long •
