Bradley Wiggins’ hopes of winning the 2013 Giro d’Italia title suffered a significant setback after the Tour de France champion lost more than a minute to his main rivals on stage seven.
Wiggins crashed on the slippery final descent, made treacherous by heavy rain, and finished one minute and 24 seconds behind a group which contained Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), defending champion Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) and 2011 Tour winner Cadel Evans (BMC Racing).
All three have eyes on the Giro title and Wiggins now lies outside of the top 20 going into the second week. The Team Sky leader will, however, have the opportunity to make amends at the earliest opportunity in Saturday’s 54.8km individual time trial.
Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol), meanwhile, won the stage. Hansen formed part of a six-man breakaway which went up the road early on in the day and the Australian was the last remaining survivor come the finish.
These pictures tell the story of yet another dramatic day in Italy.
