Treacherous road conditions have sparked a horror pile-up of riders during the second stage of the Giro d’Italia.
The closing 30kms were marred by the horrific crash that left Jay Vine requiring hospital treatment. The peloton was competing on the route between Burgas and Veliko Tarnovo during the Grande Partenza in Bulgaria – ahead of the race’s return to Italy following Monday’s rest day.
With the pack reunited heading into the day’s final ascent – the Lyaskovets Monastery Pass – a sweeping left-hand bend caused a UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider to lose grip and hit the tarmac hard, bringing several other competitors crashing down with him.
View 3 ImagesJay Vine was stretchered off
Race officials called a neutralisation as riders hauled themselves off the ground. Among those caught up in the incident was Brit Adam Yates, who emerged bloodied after sustaining a cut behind his ear, reports the Daily Star.
His team-mate Vine appeared to have fared considerably worse, however, and was filmed being stretchered off the course before being transported to hospital.
Adne Holter and Marc Soler also withdrew from the race as a result of the incident. Yates, a Tour de France podium finisher, had been earmarked as UAE’s lead contender but ended the day a staggering 13 minutes adrift of stage winner Guillermo Thomas Silva of XDS Astana.
Silva had featured in a group that surged to the front during the closing climb, with the talented young Uruguayan producing a powerful sprint finish to claim victory and pull on the Maglia Rosa ahead of Sunday’s final Bulgarian stage.
View 3 ImagesBrit Adam Yates was left covered in blood
Pictures from the collision spread rapidly across social media platforms: “Adam Yates, Gee, Buitrago down and badly hurt. UAE almost wiped out, Morgado also involved. Total disaster…
“Nasty crash. Not surprised they’ve neutralised the race. Hope the injured riders recover well,” remarked another observer.
While a third commented: “Jay Vine on the way to ambulance, heartbreaking scenes. I don’t even want to remember how many times he crashed so far in his career.”
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A further user reflected: “Cycling is so brutal…”
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