Geraint Thomas: Punctures the latest problem to affect Welsh rider

A number of riders experienced punctures on stage five of the Tour de France, which ran along the south coast of France from Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille, where Mark Cavendish was victorious.

Thomas could have done without having to stop along the route given his fractured pelvis, and it was clear he was angry when he was being pushed off after changing wheels.

"Richie and Geraint both experienced flat tyres and we think they might have been down to people placing tacks on the road," Team Sky's sports director Nicolas Portal said.

"They were in the tyres when we inspected them after the race and a few other teams also experienced similar problems. That's a bit of a worry but thankfully nobody was hurt."

The 14th stage of last year's race was also affected by similar trouble when dozens of riders, including then defending champion Cadel Evans, were affected by punctures at the summit of Mur de Peguere.