By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@Giroditalia.
Britain’s Adam Yates has been pulled out of the Giro d’Italia after suffering concussion in a heavy crash in Bulgaria on Saturday.
Yates, who hit a barrier at high speed, eventually finished almost 14 minutes behind the leading pack after he battled on in a blood-stained kit.
His team UAE Team Emirates-XRG said: “Adam Yates suffered heavy abrasions and a laceration to his left ear.
“He was initially assessed on site for concussion, and cleared to continue, but subsequently he has shown delayed concussive symptoms. He will not take the start of stage three.”
This is the first Grand Tour that Yates has contested that he will not finish. He has seven top-10 finishes to his name overall in Grand Tour races.
Team-mates Jay Vine of Australia and Marc Soler of Spain were badly hurt in the crash. Vine suffered concussion and an elbow fracture, while Soler has a pelvic fracture.
The team said Yates, Vine and Soler would be kept under observation by medical staff before travelling home in the coming days to recover.