Sam Watson (Netcompany Ineos) was exactly where he wanted to be mid-way through stage 4 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes – out front in the break with an opportunity to use his finishing speed to chase stage victory on the uphill incline to the line.
It was a day that could have been the perfect tonic to a challenging season for Watson where, despite his winning start in the Santos Tour Down Under prologue, the rider has had to manage a knee injury, a crash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and a fall whilst in the front group at Tour of Flanders that cut short not only his effort at the race but also his Spring Classics season.
The Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, previously known as the Critérium du Dauphiné, was only the British Champion's second race back since then, and as Watson pointed out in a post on social media, sitting in the break of 12 was a 'good situation' for him. But what then happened on the descent of Côte de la Roche en Forez certainly wasn't.
On the final descent before the route delivered a flat 30km run to the line at Montrond-les-Bains, Watson, who was in the back half of the break, deviated from his line and headed out of control towards the roadside before hitting the tarmac and taking a roll in the grass.
He got up, taking some time to remount, but continued nevertheless to cross the line in last place, just over 13 minutes after his break companion Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) had swept up the victory.
"Front blow out on the descent in the break," said Watson in an Instagram post, which explained what had sparked the fall.
"This sport can be cruel sometimes. Onwards and upwards."
There had been no medical update from the team on Watson at the time of writing; however, as he rode away from the finish to a round of applause from the crowd, who appreciated his gutsy effort to make it through, a number of injuries were visible. This included a bloodied knee and elbow as well as a ripped up jersey, shorts and gloves. The rider also looked like he may have been nursing a finger injury.
Netcompany Ineos will be hoping to keep the team intact for stage 5, as the British squad are heading into the day of racing with Kévin Vauquelin in second overall and Oscar Onley third, both 12 seconds back from race leader Alex Baudin (EF Education-EasyPost).
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