Cyclingflash
Mostly bruises: battered Derek Gee reflects after crash

Mostly bruises: battered Derek Gee reflects after crash

Derek Gee-West was one of those involved in the massive crash on Saturday. The Canadian champion hit the ground hard but was able to continue despite being badly battered. The GC contender from Lidl-Trek managed to limit the damage, finishing 'only' one minute behind the lead group. Before the start of the third stage, Gee gave an update to Domestique.

“I'm battered, but not too badly considering how some of the other guys looked. I’ve actually been quite lucky,” Gee said gratefully. The 28-year-old GC rider can continue his Giro despite several bruises.

“The injuries are pretty much all over. My hips took quite a hit, some on my back too, but in the end the impact just came down very hard. I didn’t get too many abrasions or anything like that, mostly bruises,” Gee explains.

One minute deficit
Fortunately for Lidl-Trek, their GC leader was able to continue and limit the time lost. Gee finished one minute and one second behind his rivals, but that is nothing new for the Canadian.

“A one-minute deficit at the start. I’m already used to losing a minute right away. Of course, it’s not the ideal way to do it, but my legs felt good. I hope that by the end of the race that minute won’t be decisive for my final classification,” Gee remains calm.

With a sprint stage on Sunday and a rest day on Monday, the crash could not have come at a worse time. The fourth-placed rider from last Giro knows this all too well. “It should be a sprint stage and then a rest day, so at least that gives some time to recover.”