"Hoping our Vuelta luck turns soon" - Geraint Thomas battles on after rough day for INEOS

Stage 7 of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana was a day of nightmares for the INEOS Grenadiers. Thymen Arensman left the race in an ambulance, Filippo Ganna was unable to replicate his sprint heroics and team leader Geraint Thomas was also involved in a crash.

Unlike Arensman, Thomas was able to remount his bike and battle on to finish the stage, although he was the wrong side of a split, losing a further 24 seconds and putting the Welshman even further out of general classification contention.

Following the disastrous day, Thomas took to Instagram to provide an update on his condition. "Hoping our Vuelta luck turns soon," he opens. "Sad to lose Thymen today. Get well soon Basil mate! Kimbo (Kim Heiduk) has some nasty road rash after sliding out in front of me, but he’s ok. And I’m all good, now two sore knees but I was lucky compared to my bike. Anyway, tomorrow’s a new day. Today’s pain is tomorrow’s gain right?"

Unless something miraculous happens, Thomas is seemingly out of the fight for the Red Jersey. As such, the Welshman now has a decision to make. Lose further time and try for a breakaway stage win. Or continue to try and stay with the GC leaders for as long as he possibly can and fight for a position in the top-10. Time will tell what Thomas and the INEOS Grenadiers decide.