Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas has suffered a suspected shoulder injury after a heavy crash in the Tour de Suisse.
Thomas fell heavily and received treatment from medical staff whilst sat upright and holding his right shoulder.
He was in the final 30km of stage four of the race when the incident happened and left him unfit to continue.
It comes just a week after four-time Tour de France winner and Team Ineos team-mate Chris Froome was ruled out of the Tour de France after suffering multiple injuries in a horror crash in training.
Thomas is expected to play the leading role in the rebranded team, formerly Team Sky, in the absence of Froome, who was set to chase a fifth Tour de France crown.
But the reigning champion could now also be an injury doubt with the Welshman set to anxiously await news regarding the full extent of the damage.
It is thought Thomas caught the curb and crashed with fellow rider Andrej Zeits, causing damage to his right shoulder or collarbone.
The Tour de France is due to get underway on July 6.
It has been a nightmare week for Team Ineos with crashes for their two leading riders, with Froome set to be out of the saddle for at least six months with fractures to his neck, right femur, hip and ribs.
Speaking after the incident this week, Thomas told BBC Sport: "It's scary. It's never nice to hear, especially when it's a close friend. It sounds horrific really.
"It sounds like he was lucky to come away with the damage he's done really. It could've been a hell of a lot worse, which I guess is a positive in a bad scenario.
"But he's got the best care around him so hopefully he can get back on the bike soon.
"I've sent him a couple of messages but I'm sure he's got a few to get through. The whole team's behind him."
Whilst Thomas' crash was far less severe, it still leaves his Tour de France defence in doubt as he hopes for positive news from further tests.
