In the Giro d'Italia, Geraint Thomas was on the podium when Welshman crashed on Stage 19 and needed a replacement bike.

Thomas touched the wheel with fellow GC candidate Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain victory), but the time loss was some six kilometers to go from the finish, too far to be automatically neutralized.

Not injured by the incident, he was able to regain contact with the Peloton, quickly remounted and after the UAE team Emirates Rafal Majka gestured to a bunch to slow down.

Race Leader Tadej Pogağar (UAE Team Emirates) had an accident-free stage, with his overall advantage of 7:42 on a hilly trek from Monteriano to Zapada completely intact. The honor of the day went to the detachment Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon - AG2R La Mondiale).

Giro runner-up in 2023, Thomas himself returned at 8:04 to stay in 3rd overall and finished in just 2 days of the race. Thomas' predicament began when he was in the Pink Jersey Group, about 6km away from the rain-soaked stage line, and came to the top of the Zapada Climb. The group was not moving fast, but when he touched the wheel, the wet tarmac all fell, but both Poganyar and Martinez were not injured with him and his fortunately, the Englishman quickly walked down the road and remounted, but his original bike was no longer available, and he rapidly asked for another. As the Maglia Rosa group sat and waited visibly, he quickly regained contact, but it was a near miss and there was no distance left on stage to recover. 

"I think it shows that everyone respects everyone, and that's not necessary," said Poganyal, who does not force the pace. "I think no one - I mean some people, yes, but here in this group, no one wants to pass Thomas in such a way.

"There's a lot of respect and I hope he's okay after the crash - it was a shame, you go to control all day and finally know after this stupid moment, but I hope he's okay and can have a great show tomorrow."

More later...