Full story
Stage 2 crash in Bulgaria
The Giro d’Italia was rocked by a second major crash in as many days when UAE Team Emirates pair Adam Yates and Jay Vine were among over two dozen riders to fall heavily on a wet 221km stage from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo.
“Vine was taken into an ambulance on a stretcher”
The New York Times said Vine was taken into an ambulance on a stretcher while Yates remounted his bike to finish the stage despite visible wounds across his face, and Yates finished 13 minutes and 46 seconds behind the main group.
The BBC reported that Yates, 33, was pulled out of the Giro after suffering concussion in a heavy crash on Saturday that involved about 30 riders on a wet descent, and that he hit a barrier at high speed.
The BBC added that two of Yates’s team-mates suffered fractures and were taken to hospital, with Vine suffering concussion and an elbow fracture and Soler having a pelvic fracture.
Race organisers initially neutralised the race for around ten minutes before restarting with 15km remaining, according to The New York Times, after riders slipped out when navigating a fast right-hander with 20 kilometers left.
Team medical statement and exits
UAE Team Emirates-XRG said Yates would not take the start of stage three after delayed concussive symptoms, with the BBC quoting the team’s assessment that "He will not take the start of stage three."
The BBC also quoted the team’s description of Yates’s injuries, saying "Adam Yates suffered heavy abrasions and a laceration to his left ear," after he was initially assessed on site for concussion and cleared to continue.
The Guardian of the crash’s aftermath in the race field was reflected in the Cyclingnews report that Jay Vine and Ådne Holter left the race on stage 2, with Marc Soler and Santiago Buitrago also confirmed as having left in the same crash.
Cyclingnews further said Andrea Vendrame and Adam Yates were DNS on stage 3 for the same reason, as the race continued on Sunday with a 175km flat stage from Plovdiv to Sofia.
The National described the same medical director statement from Dr Adrian Rotunno, saying "Jay Vine suffered a concussion and an elbow fracture" and that Marc Soler has a pelvic fracture, while Adam Yates showed delayed concussion symptoms and would not start stage 3.
Who won and what’s at risk
With the crash forcing withdrawals, the stage’s outcome still reshaped the race, as The New York Times reported that Guillermo Thomas Silva got his first grand tour stage win in the bunch sprint.
“Guillermo Thomas Silva getting his first grand tour stage win”
The BBC said Guillermo Silva Thomas of Uruguay leads this year’s race after two stages, while the Cyclingnews report tracked the Giro d’Italia abandons and DNS decisions between Bulgaria and Rome.
The National said the race was held in Bulgaria for the first three days, including a rain-soaked 221km ride from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo, and it described how the Emirati team was worst affected after five riders hit the deck with 22km to go.
The National also quoted Dr Adrian Rotunno that "All three are under observation of our medical staff" and that they will travel home in the coming days to continue their recovery and rehab.
In the immediate stakes for the Giro’s GC battle, the BBC noted that Yates’s crash was the first Grand Tour he has contested that he will not finish, while The New York Times said the crash left UAE Team Emirates pair Adam Yates and Jay Vine among over two dozen riders to fall heavily.
