"I hit my teammate's wheel and lost control" - Robbe Ghys explains crash that saw Thymen Arensman abandon La Vuelta

The finale of stage 7 at the 2023 Vuelta a Espana was marred by a pair of mass crashes. The worst of these was the second and Robbe Ghys has now explained just what transpired.

“There's nothing more I could do. I hit my teammate's wheel and lost control of my bike," the Alpecin-Deceuninck leadout man, who has helped Kaden Groves to a pair of stage wins so far at the race, wrote afterwards on his social media.

Whilst Ghys may have been the first rider down, the narrowness of the road and the high pace in the peloton, combined to ensure that he wouldn't be the only rider to be introduced to the Spanish tarmac. Worst effected of these was the INEOS Grenadiers climber, Thymen Arensman. The Dutchman abandoning the race in the back of an ambulance.

Of course Ghys didn't intentionally bring anyone down, it was just one of those accidents that happen in a stressed peloton. Nevertheless, he does send a message of support to Arensman. “I hope all is well with you,” Ghys concludes his post. Thankfully, Arensman seems to have gotten away from the crash fracture free although he is still battered and bruised.

Pris dans la chute sur la 7e étape #LaVuelta23 Robbe Ghys souffre de contusions notamment à l'épaule et la cuisse gauche. Thymen Arensman a été contraint à l'abandon. Des points de suture ont été posés. Il reste en observation à l'Hôpital mais il n'a pas de blessure grave 👨‍⚕️ pic.twitter.com/wAe3tSAM6i

— 🚴 Les Rois du Peloton 🚲 (@LRoisDuPeloton) September 1, 2023