Updated: Tao Geoghegan Hart suffers fractured hip in Giro d’Italia exit
The 2020 Giro winner went down in a pileup on a damp descent with less than 70km left to go.
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UPDATED — Ineos Grenadiers officials confirmed Wednesday evening that Tao Geoghegan Hart suffered a fractured hip in the high-speed crash that took him out of the Giro d’Italia.
“After further assessment, imaging confirmed that Tao had sustained a fracture of the left hip which will require surgery,” an official statement read.
“I’m devastated this is how my Giro ended,” Geoghegan Hart said in a social media message Wednesday evening. “Thank you all for your messages and support. I was so excited about the remainder of this race and loving every minute of it. Arrivederci.”
Original report: The Giro d’Italia lost another big name Wednesday.
This time it was Tao Geoghegan Hart of Ineos Grenadiers who crashed out in a nasty fall in Wednesday’s 219km 11th stage from Camaiore to Tortona.
The 2020 Giro winner was brought down in a pileup on a damp descent with just under 70km left to go as the peloton was slowly reeling in a breakaway. He started the Giro’s longest stage in third overall at 5 seconds behind teammate Geraint Thomas.
“Normally it was a long stage and there was no danger for the GC, just for the weather. But this has turned out to be a very bad day for us,” said Ineos Grenadiers sport director Matteo Tosatto on GCN. “We lost Geoghegan Hart, Sivakov fell hard and Thomas also crashed. I’m disappointed for Geoghegan Hart. He started the Giro in great shape and he was focused in every moment.
“One second and the Giro is gone. That is not easy,” Tosatto said. “He told me he had a lot of pain and he said not to touch the leg. Now we are waiting for news from the hospital, I hope it goes well. Tomorrow the Giro will continue, and we will have maximum support for ‘G’. But this is sport.”
At first, it was not clear exactly what provoked the crash because the roads were not that wet or steep, and the speed wasn’t that high.
Helicopter images showed a UAE Emirates rider losing his front wheel on a wet patch or white stripe, and taking out Thomas. Behind them, several other riders crashed, including Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers) and Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), but both were able to continue in the race.
Geoghegan Hart was sprawled on the asphalt, and was transported to the hospital by an ambulance. Team officials later released details confirming he will require surgery for a fractured hip.
Also read:
- Evenepoel out of the Giro with COVID
- After Remco, what happens next in the Giro?
- Geraint Thomas now in pole position for pink jersey
His departure will be a blow for Ineos Grenadiers, who vowed to defend the pink jersey going into Friday’s decisive climbing stage. The team already lost Filippo Ganna to COVID-19, while the Giro lost Remco Evenepoel to COVID on Sunday.
Another crash moments later also took out Óscar Rodríguez (Movistar) after it appeared he crossed wheels and slammed into a building. Several riders did not start due to COVID infections, including four members of Soudal Quick-Step.
Check back to VeloNews.com for more information.
We’re gutted to see @taogeoghegan forced to abandon the #Giro following a crash on stage 11.
The Brit will head to hospital for checks and we will have further updates in due course. pic.twitter.com/ondWdV9EqN
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) May 17, 2023