Team Sky's Geraint Thomas out of Giro d'Italia with injuries suffered in crash with police motorbike

Thomas, co-leading Team Sky in a Grand Tour for the first time, suffered shoulder and knee damage when a stationary police motorbike caused a crash on Sunday

Geraint Thomas is out of the Giro d'Italia (AFP)

Team Sky's Geraint Thomas has withdrawn from the Giro d'Italia.

The Welsh rider has been struggling with injuries since his crash on Sunday, which saw him slip out of general classification contention.

Thomas, co-leading Team Sky in a Grand Tour for the first time, suffered shoulder and knee damage when a stationary police motorbike caused a crash late on during stage nine.

Thomas had been lying second overall at the time of the incident but lost over five minutes and slipped further back in stages 11 and 12.

"I've been suffering since my crash on Sunday," Thomas said. "I've had an issue with my shoulder which is manageable, but my knee has also been getting worse each day.

"Obviously it's never nice to leave a race early, especially when it's your main goal of the season, but I have to look at the bigger picture. I'd love to continue, but it would be a case of trying to survive each day rather than racing.

"I'll turn my attention to the Tour de France now, and I want to arrive there with the same good form I started the Giro with."

PA