Former Giro d'Italia winner Tao Geoghegan Hart was forced out of the race on stage 11 on Wednesday after crashing heavily on a slippery descent with around 70km remaining.
The Ineos Grenadiers rider, who won the Giro in 2020, was riding with his teammates including overall leader Geraint Thomas who also hit the deck but managed to continue.
British rider Geoghegan Hart, third in the overall standings, was attended to by medics before being loaded into an ambulance.
Crash in the bunch, @taogeoghegan and the Maglia Rosa are involved
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 17, 2023
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Caduta in gruppo. @taogeoghegan e la Maglia Rosa a terra#Giro #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/KeUeNko5eF
Our thoughts are with Tao Geoghegan Hart as his Giro comes to an end ??
— Eurosport (@eurosport) May 17, 2023
The former winner leaves in an ambulance.
Cycling can be such a brutal sport. pic.twitter.com/eeM8VFiEWI
Race favourite Primoz Roglic was also involved in the crash but managed to continue on a Jumbo Visma teammate's bike.
Shortly afterwards, Movistar rider Oscar Rodriguez suffered a crash in which he came into contact with a roadside sign.
?????? | Wat een toestand! Óscar RodrÃguez botst tegen een huis langs de weg. Klinkt stom. En het ziet er ook stom uit. Hopelijk valt de schade mee. ???? #Giro
— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) May 17, 2023
?? Koers kijk je via discovery+ pic.twitter.com/kgjrwP7P1W
This year's weather-affected Giro has been hit with several high-profile withdrawals with former race leader Remco Evenepoel having to abandon after testing positive for Covid-19.
Wednesday's stage is the longest in the race, a 219km ride from Camaiore to Tortona.