The scars of repeated crashes on the 40.5km Giro stage 9 TT are clear to see on the left hip and leg of Katusha’s Ilnur Zakarin, who was favourite to take the race leader's jersey in Sunday's test (Photo: Sirotti)
Having gone into Sunday's stage 9 time trial (TT) at the Giro d'Italia in 2nd place overall and as many people's tip to take the race lead, Katusha’s Ilnur Zakarin blew a very big chance.
He was forced to a halt no fewer than three times during the race against the clock; twice when he fell off and a third time when he needed a bike change between those crashes, according to his own statement after the stage.
In the end he limped home in 54th place, some 3:51 down on stage winner Primoz Roglic of LottoNL-Jumbo.
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As a result the 26-year-old Russian Zakarin slipped down the standings to 11th overall on a wet day when he was far from the only faller.
He is now 2:09 down on Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx-QuickStep), the man whose pink leader's jersey the very unfortunate Zakarin was expected to take into today's rest day.
Zakarin goes down AGAIN! #giro pic.twitter.com/TfLSqgr800
— CyclingHub.tv (@CyclingHubTV) May 15, 2016
Zakarin slips close to the finish. He appears to glance to his right at an official waving a flag urging caution on the bend, which was wet and had lots of road markings.
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“Not much to say. I am deeply disappointed,” Zakarin said after the 40.5km TT that started and finished in Chianti and which could have been his finest hour.
“I did not expect to have such a bad luck today. The feelings were really good and I hoped to do a strong race.
“Two crashes and a bike change in one day - that's too much. But the weather made this course quite dangerous.
“I have some injuries, mostly on the left leg, hip and around my knee. I really hope to recover in the next days.
“I am motivated to keep on fighting in this Giro. The team supports me and I know I can do well.”
Ilnur Zakarin can't catch a break in Time Trials. Happened in last years Romandie too :( #Giro pic.twitter.com/wlXTsyKUYE
— CyclingHub.tv (@CyclingHubTV) May 15, 2016
Zakarin changes his bike. This was one of three incidents to halt his progress. His first crash does not appear to have been captured on camera.
Sometimes the same riders crash again and again. But you'd really have to feel sorry for a young rider who had real hopes of taking the lead in a Grand Tour only for the day to turn to the stuff of nightmares.
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