Geraint Thomas has retired from the Giro d’Italia after suffering huge time losses following a crash on Sunday’s stage, 14 May.
The Team Sky rider was caught in a pile-up after another rider took evasive action to avoid a police motorbike. He started the day in second place overall but lost more than five minutes on the race leaders at the end of the stage.
The Welshman put in a powerful display during the individual time trial on Tuesday, 16 May, finishing second and making up more than two minutes on General Classification rival Nairo Quintana.
But the remaining gap to the leaders, as well as the after effects of the crash, has proven too much for the 30-year-old.
He was six minutes and 46 seconds behind race leader Tom Dumoulin, and more than four minutes adrift of second-placed Quintana, when he pulled out before Friday's stage 13, 19 May.
The Giro is due to conclude on Sunday, 28 May in Milan.
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