Giro: Everyone is not good to go anymore

The big event of the day of course sadly isn't a great stage win of a young aussie on unexpected territory. Instead it is the devastating crash shortly before the final climb up to Montecassino. Fresh rain made for slick and treacherous roads and a series of crashes, the worst of them in a roundabout cast the race into chaos. Michael Matthews and Cadel Evans were the main benefactors from the split, something that has been hotly debated already. Behind though the carnage claimed many victims. Basically all GC contenders went down, some worse than others but everyone lost some time. For a few the losses were catastrophic even if they weren't among the ones who were forced to abandon.

Here is the rough status as of tonight:

Abandons.

Joaquim Rodriguez, Katusha
Pretty devastating. This was supposed to be J-Rod's big chance. Instead he goes home with two broken ribs and a broken thumb. A huge blow to him and the whole race really.

Giampaolo Caruso, Katusha
Already in pain from a scaphoid fracture and now also suffered bad contusions on his hip and leg.

Angel Vicioso, Katusha
Threefold(!?) complex fracture of the femur (thighbone). Ouch, ouch, ouch. That sounds like a career-ender for a 37 year old.

Brett Lancaster, Orica
Broken hand.

David Villella, Cannondale
Dislocated shoulder and contusion. Bad luck for the neo-pro who was having an impressive first season so far.

Janez Brajkovic, Astana
Broken elbow. That's odd. Brajkovic almost never has bad luck. Or is it the other way around?

Injured

Rick Flens, Belkin
Broken index finger and road rash on his back.

Steven Kruijswijk, Belkin
Bruised but not broken shoulder, he lost 15 minutes today too, in case he was hoping for  GC then that's gone.

Andrey Amador
Neck pain, no fractures but "cervical sprain". Hoping to start tomorrow. Quintana, Malori, Castroviejo and Izagirre all went down for Movistar but the others are all said to have very minor injuries.

Svein Tuft, Orica
"Significant abrasions" That cycling code for not much skin left. Still being monitored and whether he starts will probably depend on if he gets any sleep at all. Cam Meyer is also uncertain to start , not due to the crash but because of illness since yesterday.

Just scrapes

Rafal Majka, Tinkoff
Pain in hip and knee, should be ok in a day or two. The pole got up and was one of those that finished high up and actually climbed on GC today.

Nicholas Roche, Tinkoff
Superficial cuts and bruises. Seems to have lost most of the 15 minutes on GC waiting for a replacement bike. Wounds need a few days to heal up.

Rovny & Poljanski, Tinkoff
Skin abrasions. Able to continue.

Wilco Kelderman, Belkin
Road rash

Michele Scarponi, Astana
Bruised but seemingly ok.

Just scrapes might pretty much include al the peloton by the sounds of it. It might be easier to list the ones that actually stayed upright today. Any more updates, please share them in the comments. Let's hope for a better day tomorrow. Below is the new Top 10 on GC. Full GC here