Tour of Guangxi stage 3 temporarily paused after mass crash

Stage 3 of the Gree-Tour of Guangxi was quickly paused lower than 30km into the day of racing after a mass crash with greater than 20 riders coming down and a quantity being pressured to desert, together with one of many pre-race favourites Jhonatan Narváez (Ineos Grenadiers) and final 12 months’s winner Milan Vader (Visma-Lease a Bike).

The race social media additionally reported that those that got here down included race chief Max Kanter (Astana-Qazaqstan) however he was one rider that the reside cowl on procyclingstats famous had returned to the peloton earlier than phrase of the pause got here by.

After the race set out from Jingxi on Thursday morning the assaults rapidly began flying, with Robert Stannard (Bahrain-Victorious), Mick van Dijke (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Pepijn Reinderink (Soudal-Quickstep) establishing a small hole as did a gaggle of counter attackers Jonas Rutsch (EF Training-EasyPost), Artem Schmidt (Ineos Grenadiers) and Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty).

They have been out entrance when the crash occurred, at lower than 30km into the day of racing, however the attackers appeared to have been caught earlier than the peloton slowed after which a short lived halt was put in place.

“The race has now been paused to ensure that all riders who can proceed racing to return [to] the peloton,” mentioned a social media publish by the Gree-Tour of Guangxi .

Racing quickly received again underway once more however the riders, groups and commissaires agreed to cancel the primary intermediate dash at 38.8km. there have been nonetheless, nonetheless, three class 3 climbs and a second intermediate dash to deal with within the 214km stage to Bama, the longest of the tour.

Vegard Stake Laengen was amongst these riders out of the race following the crash however fortuitously UAE Workforce Emirates have been fast to reassure on social media that the excellent news was that “he’s advantageous”.

EF Training-EasyPost mentioned it had three riders concerned – Esteban Chaves, Mikkel Honoré and Markel Beloki – and whereas two have been capable of journey on Honoré had an arm damage that required additional medical examination so he had deserted the race.

Visma-Lease a Bike mentioned Vader’s abandon got here after he injured his knee within the mass crash, whereas Narváez additionally needed to depart the race after his second crash in as many days delivered a “knock on his knee”.

“A troublesome technique to finish his ultimate race for the staff, however the final six seasons have been an actual pleasure. Thanks Jhony!” mentioned Ineos Grenadiers in a social media publish.

This text is being up to date as additional data comes by.