Geraint Thomas hits the deck again in Sunday's stage but hopes to turn tables in third week: "I'm still here though"

It is not the Vuelta of Geraint Thomas and INEOS Grenadiers, that much is clear. The leader of the British team did not actually get a chance to prove himself much throughout the race and had already fallen several times. It happened again on Sunday.

Filippo Ganna achieved a great success in the time trial, but the rest is up for grabs. Laurens De Plus goes home after one day, Thomas who falls several times, co-leader Thymen Arensman who breaks down and so on: INEOS is not really happy with the Vuelta yet.

So on Sunday Thomas was on the ground again. "It was at the top of the penultimate climb," Thomas remembers. "It went quite quickly and there was a left turn coming up, but there was a water bottle on the ground. I couldn't see it properly and before I knew it I was lying on the ground with someone from BORA-hansgrohe behind me."

"My back hurts a bit, but that's how it goes in this Vuelta: one step forward, then two steps back. I'm still here though, which is good. I'm looking forward to the rest day, we're apparently in a nice place," said Thomas, who will also enjoy the Rugby World Cup, cheering for his Welsh compatriots.