'He was stopped there forever' - brutal Giro d'Italia crash sees GC contender Derek Gee-West injured and lose time after long lone chase

Derek Gee-West’s hopes of a strong general classification (GC) showing at the Giro d’Italia suffered a significant setback following a major crash 23 kilometres from the finish of stage two. The Canadian rider from Lidl-Trek was involved in the pile-up and endured a heavy fall, forcing him into a long, solitary chase to rejoin the peloton. Despite his determined effort on the Lyaskovets Monastery climb, Gee-West was unable to fully close the gap before the race was neutralised, ultimately losing just over a minute to the race leaders. The incident was part of a chaotic sequence that saw the race halted for around five kilometres before resuming with 18 kilometres remaining. Lidl-Trek’s sports director Bernie Eisel described the crash as “very tough” and highlighted the confusion surrounding the timing of the race restart. Eisel expressed concern over the decision to resume racing while some riders, including Gee-West and Edoardo Zambanini, were still isolated behind the main group. He acknowledged the difficulty of such decisions but questioned whether the restart was premature given the severity of the crash. Eisel also revealed his personal concern for other riders caught up in the crash, notably Adam Yates of UAE Team Emirates, who suffered a serious head injury but was able to complete the stage. The camaraderie and mutual support among teams were evident in the paddock after the stage, with riders and staff checking on each other’s well-being in the wake of the second major pile-up in as many days. This incident has cast a shadow over the early stages of the race and raised questions about safety and race management. Despite the setback, Lidl-Trek remains cautiously optimistic about Gee-West’s condition. Initial medical checks suggest that both Gee-West and sprinter Max Walscheid, who was also involved in the crash, will start stage three. Eisel described Gee-West as “pretty battered” but determined, underscoring the resilience required to continue competing at the highest level after such a dramatic incident. The coming stages will be crucial in assessing whether Gee-West can recover lost time and remain a contender in this year’s Giro d’Italia.