Movistar leader Marc Soler has been forced to abandon the Giro d'Italia after getting caught up in a crash in the early kilometres of stage 12 from Siena to Bagno di Romagna.
The Spaniard went down while riding towards the rear of the peloton just four kilometres into the 212-kilometre stage. Soler, who lay 11th on GC, 3:19 down on maglia rosa Egan Bernal, got going again but could later be seen holding his lower left back as he rode behind the Movistar team car some way behind the peloton.
As riders fought to make the break of the day up front, Soler was joined by teammate Albert Torres, the pair accompanied by a bandaged Gino Mäder (Bahrain Victorious) and staying close to the team car as others streamed past.
Soler could be seen talking to the race ambulance after 20 kilometres of racing and was given an ice pack to put on his back before resuming his ride along Torres and Mäder behind the Movistar car.
The 27-year-old, who was Movistar's sole leader at the Giro, finally called it quits after 60 kilometres of racing as the peloton reached Florence. The team quickly confirmed his abandon via Twitter.
"We sadly have to confirm Marc Soler will not continue in the Giro d'Italia following his crash early on stage 12," read Movistar's statement.
Shortly after Soler left the race, it was confirmed that stage 6 winner Mäder had also abandoned the Giro. The Swiss rider had struggled during the stage, and could be seen riding with a bandaged left arm.
Lamentablemente, @solermarc93 abandona el 🇮🇹 #Giro tras su caída en el inicio de la 12ª etapa. Más info, durante el transcurso del día.We sadly have to confirm Marc Soler will not continue in the @giroditalia following his crash early on stage 12. More info later. pic.twitter.com/5splOMXwwEMay 20, 2021
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Daniel Ostanek has been a staff writer at Cyclingnews since August 2019, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later part-time production editor. Before Cyclingnews, he was published in numerous publications around the cycling world, including Procycling, CyclingWeekly, CyclingTips, Cyclist, and Rouleur, among others. As well as reporting and writing news and features, Daniel runs the 'How to watch' content throughout the season.
Daniel has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, and has interviewed a number of the sport's biggest stars, including Egan Bernal, Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Mark Cavendish, and Anna van der Breggen. Daniel rides a 2002 Landbouwkrediet Colnago C40 and his favourite races are Strade Bianche and the Vuelta a España.