Following the crashes of Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing Team) in the race, Tyler Farrar today became the second of the Giro d’Italia’s four American riders to suffer injury; in contrast to Phinney, though, the fall forced Farrar to abandon the race.
The crash occurred during the lumpy, technical 207 kilometre sixth stage from Urbino to Porto Sant'Elpidio, and would end the Garmin Barracuda rider’s campaign far earlier than he had intended.
He was taken via ambulance to hospital in Jensi, with the team doctor in attendance. He was assessed there, and a number of injuries were determined.
“He suffered multiple lacerations to his hand and numerous abrasions. According to our team doctor Shannon Sovndal, he also suffered a laceration to a superficial artery in the back of his left hand,” said the team in a statement.
It added that fortunately preliminary x-rays showed an absence of fractures, and that a separate exam appeared to rule out injury to tendons.
Farrar’s wounds were cleaned and the rider was then transported back to the team hotel. His Giro d’Italia is however over.
The race had been a solid one until that point, with the rider taking 29th in the opening time trial, then placing fourth and third in the sprints on stages two and three.
Farrar was part of Garmin-Barracuda’s victorious team time trial lineup on Wednesday, the collaborative effort putting Ramunas Navardauskas into the Maglia Rosa vacated by Phinney.
Navardauskas cracked on today’s stage, and an apparent miscalculation by the team saw it wait too long before chasing down the breakaway. Had the gap been limited, Ryder Hesjedal would have taken over the race lead, but instead new leader Adriano Malori (Lampre ISD) and Michal Golas (Omega Pharma Quick Step) ended the day ahead of him in the overall standings.
Hesjedal is seventeen seconds back and will likely be frustrated not to wear the jersey. He is however best-placed of the GC contenders, putting him into a good position as the race becomes gradually tougher.
As for Farrar, he’s facing a break from racing. It’s not immediately clear how long he’ll be out of competition, but today’s accident shouldn’t pose a threat to his planned targeting of the sprint stages in the Tour de France.