GERAINT THOMAS has posted a sickening picture of his tattered Team Sky jersey after a crash ruled him out of the Tour de France with a fractured collarbone.
The Welsh star came off on a rapid descent of the Col de la Biche during stage nine in a horror smash – despite being in second place on general classification.
The cycling hard man completed the entire 2013 Tour de France course after fracturing his pelvis in the opening stage.
But this latest break has wrecked his Tour and he has been left licking his wounds and is now likely to miss the Vuelta in Spain.
Thomas was happy to laugh off the bash after being knocked out of his second grand tour this year, with a fall ruling him out of the Giro d’Italia.
He joked on Instagram: “Jersey for sale… Only worn once.
“Not in 100 per cent [perfect] consdition, slight signs of use. Might need a wash.
“Thanks again for all your messages, overwhelmed by the amount, means a lot!!”
Thomas added on Facebook: “Such a sh&t day!!!
“Nowhere to go when Rafa went down right in front of me.
“But I'm ok though, thanks for all your messages!!
“Good luck to the boys at Team Sky - go win that Yellow Jersey now Chris Froome!”
Richie Porte was also involved in a terrifying collision on a slippery stage.
Porte, who was one of Chris Froome's main challengers for the yellow jersey, was conscious after the crash and was able to move his arm and legs but he will no longer compete in the race.
Images show that he has badly damaged his right arm following the incident.
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Speaking after the race, rival Dan Martin said: "Richie lost it on one corner - it was so slippery, I guess the organisers got what they wanted.
“It was so slippery under the trees.
"I was very, very lucky to get away as lightly as I did."
Froome and Mark Cavendish both sent out their thoughts to those involved in the crash on the Mont du Chat, the next big descent after Thomas' smash
.
While Porte's team, BMC Racing, revealed their rider would be taken to hospital following the crash.
Relieved to finish safely but thoughts are with everyone that crashed today, especially @GeraintThomas86 & @richie_porte
#TDF2017
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 9, 2017
Froome has now lost a rival in Porte but he also lost a key teammate in Thomas in the same stage.
This also comes after Cavendish was ruled out of the tour with a broken shoulder after his clash with Peter Sagan.
The 31-year-old was barged by world champion Peter Sagan against the advertising hoardings as he smacked against the tarmac in Vittel.
Sagan has since been disqualified for causing Cavendish to crash.
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