Giro d’Italia 2020 - Elia Viviani wiped out by motorbike in freak crash

Elia Viviani (Cofidis) was sent tumbling to the tarmac after a motorbike crashed into him during Stage 11 at the Giro d’Italia.

The Italian was navigating a roundabout with the rest of the peloton when the motorbike, ridden by a race official, ran out of road and inadvertently hit him.

Fortunately, the incident occurred at a low speed, with the 31-year-old able to continue after being helped to his feet by his teammates.

Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R La Mondiale) was also slowed significantly in the incident, with the Frenchman’s path blocked by the stricken motorbike and a hedge.

Viviani, a five-time stage winner at the Giro, has endured a difficult year and is without a win in 2020.

Two-time Giro champion Alberto Contador sympathised with Viviani over the incident.

''This fall of Viviani is dramatic," Contador told Eurosport.

"His career is having a lot of bad luck. All the impediments of these weeks are affecting him and now after everything that has happened, with this new fall with the bike he must reset and start from zero.

"That is very hard when you already have a bad race.''