Cycling-Giro motorbike incident sends Thomas to the ground

Geraint Thomas's Giro d'Italia chances suffered a major blow on Sunday when the Briton crashed on the ninth stage after a police motorbike sent several riders to the ground at the foot of the final ascent.

The motorbike was stopped on the side of the road and Dutchman Wilco Kelderman shouldered into it, with several riders falling off their bike behind him.

Team Sky's Thomas, second overall at the start of the day, and Briton Adam Yates (Orica-Scott), who was third, crashed and were left behind the leading group at the start of the final climb up the Blockhaus.

Thomas, who needed a couple of minutes to get back on his bike, appeared to be suffering from a shoulder injury.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)