This video shows eventual 3rd placed Geraint Thomas caught by a strong crosswind and completely thrown off his bike into the ditch.
Having won the E3 Harelbeke semi classic midweek in Belgium with an absolutely fantastic solo ride in the final, Team Sky's in-form Welshman Geraint Thomas went into yesterday's Gent-Wevelgem as one of the big favourites.
He managed to get clear in the quality breakaway on a day when strong crosswinds saw the race split to pieces, but his race was almost ended by the unusual spill captured in the clip below.
Thomas was caught by the 80kmph crosswind and thrown across the road, apparently losing his balance and being flung into the ditch.
Thankfully he was uninjured, remounted and got back on to the escape.
At 38-years-old Paolini showed he can still motor with a clever and strong win in Belgium yesterday (Photo: Sirotti)
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The effort likely took it out of him and while he was one of the main men in the pointy end of the race when the breakaway split before regrouping, he had to be content with 3rd place.
The race was won in a late lone move by 38-year-old Italian Luca Paolini (Katusha), who came home just seconds ahead of Etixx-QuickStep’s Niki Terpstra, with Thomas just behind.
The two Irishmen in the race, Matt Brammeier (MTN-Qhubeka) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18), were both listed as non finishers.
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