Adam Yates has been forced to exit the Giro d’Italia after developing “delayed concussive symptoms” from a severe fall during a crash on Saturday. The UAE Team Emirates rider, along with teammates Jay Vine and Marc Soler, was among more than two dozen cyclists involved in the incident on a fast right-hand turn in wet conditions with 20 kilometers remaining in stage two.
Despite visible facial wounds, Yates remounted his bike to finish the stage but will not start Sunday’s leg from Plovdiv to Sofia. Vine was taken to an ambulance on a stretcher, while Soler could not cross the finish line and also abandoned.
“Jay Vine suffered a concussion and an elbow fracture, and Marc Soler has a pelvic fracture,” said team medical director Dr. Adrian Rotunno. “At this stage, neither should require surgery. Adam Yates sustained heavy abrasions and a laceration to his left ear. He was initially assessed for concussion at the scene and cleared to continue, but later showed delayed concussive symptoms. He will not start stage 3 today. All three are under observation by our medical staff and will travel home in the coming days to continue recovery and rehab.”
Saturday’s stage, only the second of the three-week grand tour, covered 221 kilometers from Burgas on Bulgaria’s east coast to Veliko Tarnovo inland. The crash occurred on wet roads when multiple riders slipped on a fast right-hander with 20 kilometers left, and those behind could not avoid the fallen cyclists. Several riders hit the motorway crash barriers at high speed, many striking the stanchions heavily.
Other notable riders involved included Derek Gee-West, Santiago Buitrago, and Remi Cavagna. Uno-X rider Ådne Holter became the third to abandon after failing a concussion check, and Bahrain Victorious later confirmed Buitrago Sanchez was also unable to finish. Race organizers neutralized the race for about ten minutes before restarting with 15 kilometers remaining. Pre-race favorite Jonas Vingegaard immediately attacked on the following climb, with only Giulio Pellizzari and Lennert Van Eetvelt able to respond. The stage ended in a bunch sprint, with XDS Astana’s Guillermo Thomas Silva claiming his first grand tour stage win.
