Tour de France - Vino, Van den Broeck crash out
Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov was forced out of the Tour de France on Sunday after being involved in a massive crash with 90km to go in the ninth stage from Issoire.
The crash, which also forced Belgian Jurgen van den Broeck out of the race, prompted the peloton, led by Belgium's Philippe Gilbert and Andy Schleck's Leopard team, to momentarily neutralise the stage as the bunch dramatically eased the pace.
Astana team leader Vinokourov, who was taking part in his last Tour, tumbled into a ditch after a dozen riders fell on the descent from the Pas de Peyrol mountain pass and was taken back to the race ambulance with a broken femur and cracked pelvis.
The Kazakh, 37, finished third in the Tour de France in 2003 and won the Vuelta a Espana in 2006.
Also caught in the crash was Van den Broeck, fifth in the Tour last year. The Belgian pulled out a few kilometres after the crash with a shoulder blade fracture.
American David Zabriskie was also caught up in the crash and pulled out with a broken wrist.
Two of his team-mates, Briton David Millar and Canadian Ryder Hesjedal, fell off their bikes but continued the race, Garmin-Cervelo sports director Lionel Marie told Reuters.
Belgian Frederik Willems also fell and he pulled out with a collarbone fracture.
Last year, then overall leader Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland had a stage neutralised after team-mate Schleck and scores of other riders crashed on a descent.
Comment 13 - 32 of 32
Whilst no-one wants to see riders hurt, Vino took the p*ss out of the TdF previously and as the Tour is bigger than any rider it has bitten back with divine retribution.
Someone suggested he would come back as a DS, lets hope the UCI gets its arse in gear and puts the promised ban in place on guilty riders returning in the back up teams.
I, for one won't be sorry to see the back of him, and others like him.
steve 24 well said im glad to see the back of vino when he came back after his ban he had nothing but utter comptempt for cycling and its fans sympathy goes out to all other riders hurt in yesterdays crashes
the most brutal tour crash wise i can remember, hope its over now and the next 2 weeks are crash free, this was more than anybody could stomach.
to ecotrek88, Roger Riviere is not an invalid. He died in 1976.
Aliya,an idle threat, You will watch the TDF again if you have any love for the sport..
Vino is one of my favorite riders because he rides on spirit and attacks at any time, especially when it makes no apparent sense, and sometimes it works. It will change the character of the tour and make it a bit more predictable. Very naive to think he is the big drug cheat for taking a transfusion from someone else, to me it shows he was an amateur at doping, not a pro like the experts on other teams. Might be his last stage race ever. Another rider of the same combative school is Hoogerland and maybe it's fitting that he made a name for himself by hitting the barbwire at 6okph and continuing on to get the polka dot jersey. That's right out of the Vino playbook and I'm glad to see someone carrying on.. Siempre Vino.
Vino is a cheater! He should have never been allowed to start the race. I don't like to see ANY rider get hurt, but enough is enough. If you get caught cheating, LEAVE and don't come back. Have a little respect for the sport.
Poor Vino, really a shame because I like him! he was in great form and it's his last tour...well i guess his season is done and he has to retire now. And that car accident was horrifying! you'd think those drivers would know better. Poor Hoogerland, he looks like he's been through a blender...and worse, that photo of his naked behind with the shredded shorts is going to be all over the world, adding mortification!
Not even at the high mountains, and they're dropping like flies...
Karma.
TDF get your act together. In 1960 on the route from Millau-Avignon on the col du Perjuret-Roger Riviere (world hour record holder) crashed over a road barrier and it was lucky that he was found in the gully.Big problem the guy is now an invalid. (risk of the tour) .WOUTER WEYLAND a more recent victim in the Giro? Survey the routes.In this TDF the surge to get up to date photos mainly caused by clowns on motorbikes not letting the Competitors do the work at the office. Incidents will happed in the normal competietive nature of the individual and team managemet. It is my concern that the media is making this event a like a bull run in Pamplona a maget for the blood thisty media.
No one deserves what vino had today..... But lest we remember that he was a proven cheat...simple...and how a lot of these true comments have had the thumbs down for stating a simple fact...oh how quick we forget and in this process disrespect the true clean cyclist who unfortunately remain anoyminous as the sport they have chosen is and always will be raced by riders who who want to win at Any cost....and will do and take anything for their cause...
Missed the crash live, but have seen it since and I held my breath, even knowing that no one was lost. Memories flooded back of Wouter's crash. Thank God no one was lost today, in either incident. Prayers for all injured for a speedy recovery. Vino, hope you do carry on another year
Great attacking rider and a real shame to see a rider retire like this. Hope he recovers soon and decides to do another year. Great abbassador for Kazakhstan.
I can't believe that this happened to Vinokurov... :( No matter what anyone says, but he is a rider that could win any stage, flat or mountain, and he is great because of that!!!
That's a real bad way to end your Tour Vino. You are one of the most exciting riders to watch with your constant attacking. I will miss your presence and wish you a speedy recovery
See what happened was, this TV video-journalist-guy was a bit over-zealous with his meal earlier in the day, had a bunch of chili peppers in his meal, and this over jacked-up YAHOO'D his nervous system, and so his judgement was not what it should have been - seriously it can happen that way - and maybe some of the over testerone hyped cyclists should consider calmer meals too - why not ? And not go yahooooing over walls into trees, well it could have happened that way.
Vino did his time. Great warrior- hope recovery goes well. Gutted for you
vino is a dirty rider good luck in your retirement!
Sorry you went like this, Vino. At least you podium'd in the 2003 TdF and won a Vuelta.
'
When you become a Directeur Sportif for Astana, keep your team clean.
Wait...you use a drug that 99% of the rest of the field uses, and you then deserve to crash at 60 odd kmh and break your pelvis?
Seriously?
Doping is nowhere near as evil as the viewers are.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account