Johnny Hoogerland tangled in the barb wire
after the car crash
after the car crash
It was a day of blood, sweat and tears as close to 12 riders, some big names too, abandoned the race today. One huge crash took out vets David Zabriskie and Jurgen Van Den Broeck and really messed with Christian Vande Velde. Vandelveld had this to say: "I was never the same after the crash. We were going too fast."
Alexandre Vinokourov also abandoned after crashing today on the 129.2 mile trek stage from Issoire to Saint-Flour.
BUT THE BIG NEWS WAS WHEN 2 RIDERS WERE SIDE SWIPED BY A FRENCH TV NEWS CAR AND ALMOST KILLED.
The car swerved to avoid hitting a tree and instead took out, Team Sky rider Juan Antonio Flecha, who was hit directly by the car and subsequently almost ran over by 3 others. And in one of the most dramatic crashes in the history of the Tour, Dutch cyclist Johnny Hoogerland was thrown upside down in to a barbed wire fence.
These two cyclists were awarded the "Fighting Spirit Award" of the day, which has never been given to two people on the same day as a tie.
There have been so many injuries this year it has to be setting some sort of record. Chris Horner of Team Radioshack is also out with broken bones.
In fact, Chris Horner had his bell rung so badly, that when tour doctors examined him he didn't even know he was in the tour even though he was riding on his bike clinging to the side of the medical car. He was retired immediately.
Little Tommy Voeckler, now a ten-year veteran, has taken the lead and snatched the leader's yellow jersey from everybody's favorite Norwegian Thor Hushovd.
Tomorrow is a rest day.
Current Standings:
Overall standings
1. Thomas Voeckler (France / Europcar) 38hrs 35mins 11secs
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Rabobank) +1:49"
3. Cadel Evans (Australia / BMC Racing) +2:26"
4. Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg / Leopard) +2:29"
5. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Leopard) +2:37"
6. Tony Martin (Germany / HTC - Highroad) +2:38"
7. Peter Velits (Slovakia / HTC - Highroad)
8. Andreas Kloeden (Germany / RadioShack) +2:43"
9. Philippe Gilbert (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Lotto) +2:55"
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / Leopard) +3:08" 11.
Ivan Basso (Italy / Liquigas) +3:36"
King of the Mountains standings
1. Johnny Hoogerland (Netherlands / Vacansoleil) 22 points
2. Thomas Voeckler (France / Europcar) 16
3. Tejay Van Garderen (U.S. / HTC - Highroad) 5
Team standings 1. Europcar (France) 115hrs 03mins 31secs
2. Leopard (Luxembourg) +32"
3. RadioShack (United States) +1:02"
4. Rabobank (Netherlands) +1:18"
5. Garmin (United States) +1:50"
6. AG2R (France) +4:23"
7. Katyusha (Russia) +4:40"
8. HTC - Highroad (United States) +4:55"
9. Quick-Step (Belgium) +6:14"
10. Omega Pharma - Lotto (Belgium) +7:45"
Alexandre Vinokourov also abandoned after crashing today on the 129.2 mile trek stage from Issoire to Saint-Flour.
BUT THE BIG NEWS WAS WHEN 2 RIDERS WERE SIDE SWIPED BY A FRENCH TV NEWS CAR AND ALMOST KILLED.
The car swerved to avoid hitting a tree and instead took out, Team Sky rider Juan Antonio Flecha, who was hit directly by the car and subsequently almost ran over by 3 others. And in one of the most dramatic crashes in the history of the Tour, Dutch cyclist Johnny Hoogerland was thrown upside down in to a barbed wire fence.
These two cyclists were awarded the "Fighting Spirit Award" of the day, which has never been given to two people on the same day as a tie.
There have been so many injuries this year it has to be setting some sort of record. Chris Horner of Team Radioshack is also out with broken bones.
In fact, Chris Horner had his bell rung so badly, that when tour doctors examined him he didn't even know he was in the tour even though he was riding on his bike clinging to the side of the medical car. He was retired immediately.
Little Tommy Voeckler, now a ten-year veteran, has taken the lead and snatched the leader's yellow jersey from everybody's favorite Norwegian Thor Hushovd.
Tomorrow is a rest day.
Current Standings:
Overall standings
1. Thomas Voeckler (France / Europcar) 38hrs 35mins 11secs
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain / Rabobank) +1:49"
3. Cadel Evans (Australia / BMC Racing) +2:26"
4. Fraenk Schleck (Luxembourg / Leopard) +2:29"
5. Andy Schleck (Luxembourg / Leopard) +2:37"
6. Tony Martin (Germany / HTC - Highroad) +2:38"
7. Peter Velits (Slovakia / HTC - Highroad)
8. Andreas Kloeden (Germany / RadioShack) +2:43"
9. Philippe Gilbert (Belgium / Omega Pharma - Lotto) +2:55"
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark / Leopard) +3:08" 11.
Ivan Basso (Italy / Liquigas) +3:36"
King of the Mountains standings
1. Johnny Hoogerland (Netherlands / Vacansoleil) 22 points
2. Thomas Voeckler (France / Europcar) 16
3. Tejay Van Garderen (U.S. / HTC - Highroad) 5
Team standings 1. Europcar (France) 115hrs 03mins 31secs
2. Leopard (Luxembourg) +32"
3. RadioShack (United States) +1:02"
4. Rabobank (Netherlands) +1:18"
5. Garmin (United States) +1:50"
6. AG2R (France) +4:23"
7. Katyusha (Russia) +4:40"
8. HTC - Highroad (United States) +4:55"
9. Quick-Step (Belgium) +6:14"
10. Omega Pharma - Lotto (Belgium) +7:45"
Alexandre Vinokourov has to be carried out of the
ditch after one of today's crashes
ditch after one of today's crashes
Video of the car crash
Wow! Is it just me or does the Tour seem to be getting more dangerous every year? Johnny Hoogerland's lucky his leg tangled with the barbed wire - it could have been much worse, even deadly.
ReplyDeleteI agree this year has been the worst i have ever seen!! They are callinf it The Tour De Fence!! LOL.Another one is the Tore De arm and leg out of socket!! LOL
ReplyDelete