🎥 What we didn't see at the Giro start in Albania: Cofidis rider slammed off bike, Warbasse avoids brutal crash

Let’s start with Larry Warbasse, who is contributing as a columnist for Cyclingnews. The always outspoken American rider from Tudor Pro Cycling is in the Giro to support team leader Michael Storer as road captain, but he nearly didn’t make it to the start on Friday, May 9. “I was riding in Albania the day before the Giro and hit a hole in the road after dodging a massive crater. My sunscreen-slick hands slipped off the handlebars…”

The experienced rider managed to save himself impressively. “Somehow I was able to catch myself with my wrist and keep the bike upright. It was a close call. That’s how my Giro nearly ended, before it had even started in Albania. Fortunately, my teammates and I made it to the start in Durrës, and we got through the first three days without injury. I was pretty worried in the days leading up to the Giro because of the road conditions, but the roads we actually raced on were pretty good.”

Read more below the photo.

One rider who didn’t make it through the opening days of the Giro without a crash was a member of the Cofidis team. He hadn’t even pinned on a race number yet, as Saturday was only the reconnaissance ride for the Giro’s time trial. But even that wasn’t without danger, as shown in a video where a fan suddenly walks across the road, slamming straight into the rider and knocking him to the ground. The rider remains down for a moment, while the fan immediately appears remorseful and is later escorted off the course by a police officer.