Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas, two of the top five contenders at the time, quit the Tour de France in pieces after crashing on wet and slippery descents.
Both suffered a broken collarbone, while Australian Porte also fractured his pelvis.
Three more riders quit the Tour after crashes on Sunday's brutal ninth stage while Poland's Rafal Majka made itRead more
And breathe! Chris Froome and his Tour de France rivals will have a welcome day off on Monday to lick their wounds and prepare for the next two gruelling weeks.
Sunday was a brutal, bruising and costly day for the Tour as a whole as five riders crashed out -- including Australian contender Richie Porte and Froome's team-mate GeraintRead more
Richie Porte raced away from his rivals on the final climb to open a decisive 20-second lead after the second stage of the Tour Down Under on Wednesday, the Australian putting himself on course for a first victory in the event.
The BMC team leader has finished second twice in the six-stage race around South Australia but with previous editionsRead more