Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) would have been favourites for the stage win in Tortoreto on stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico on Thursday, but the two Classics specialists crashed together inside four kilometres to go.
Pidcock appeared to be drifting back from the front part of the bunch and Van Aert moving forward when the Jumbo-Visma rider became squeezed in between teammate Koen Bouwman and Pidcock.
The riders hooked bars and both came down, fortunately not bringing anyone else along with them.
Although the pair are fierce rivals, as they got up and brushed themselves off with torn shorts and scraped skin, they apologised to each other and rode along together, well out of contention for the stage win.
At least Van Aert could take solace in his teammate Primož Roglič snagging the stage victory in his stead.
😱@tompidcock and @WoutvanAert crashed. #TirrenoAdriatico pic.twitter.com/WlG3qxQdviMarch 9, 2023
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CyclingNews RSS Feed…