Team GB end day one of Tokyo Olympics with NO medals after Thomas crashes but Peaty sets 8th fastest time ever in heats
GERAINT THOMAS crashed out of the Olympics as Team GB’s opening day curse of no medals continued.
The former Tour de France champ was forced to quit the men’s 230km road race on Mount Fuji when he was accidentally brought down by a teammate.
The first man across the line was Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz, bagging his country’s second ever Olympic gold.
Brit Adam Yates was in a bunch sprint along the final 100m but finished in ninth place and his twin brother Simon was 17th.
Thomas’ misfortune symbolised the general difficulties faced by Team GB on day one – who failed to get on the podium.
Athens 2004 was the last time they won a medal on the opening day of an Olympics.
Team USA also failed to medal for the first time in the Summer Games since 1972.
Brit medal hope Heather Watson was knocked out of the women’s tennis singles in the first round.
Gold medal boxing contender Peter McGrail is out of the Games after losing a tough opening bout against Thai southpaw Chatchai-Decha Butdee.
It was a poor day for Team GB’s rowers as Helen Glover and Polly Swann came third in the coxless pairs heat.
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It was Glover’s first defeat in more than a decade and was some way off the pace but enough to bag a spot in Tuesday’s semi-final.
The strongly fancied men’s eight finished third of three boats in their heat, meaning they must now progress from the repechage to make the final.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Team GB as Andy Murray and Joe Salisbury beat France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 6-3 6-2.
Adam Peaty cruised into the Olympic 100m breaststroke semi-finals in 57.56 seconds, the eighth-fastest time in history.
In gymnastics, defending champion Max Whitlock eased through to the pommel horse final with a score of 14.900 points in qualification.
Ellen White scored GB’s only goal of the game as Hege Riise’s side continued their winning start to the Olympics.
British boxer Karriss Artingstall beat Botswana’s Keamogetse Sadie Kenosi, the world number four, in her opening bout.