It's not uncommon for bicycle crashes to occur during the Tour de France, but it is unusual for a car to hit some cyclists in the middle of the race.
During Sunday's ninth stage of the Tour de France, this video footage shows a Tour television technician's car attempting to pass a group of riders along a narrow road. The car swerved to avoid a tree and sideswiped Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha, who then bumped into Dutch racer Johnny Hoogerland. Flecha rolled over the front wheel of his bike and into the road, while Hoogerland got knocked off of his bike and into a barbed wire fence on the side of the road. Flecha was fortunate he was not hit by the car behind him.
According to the AP, French police are investigating the crash and investigators are acting quickly to interview witnesses to the crash, including the riders, before the next stage of the Tour de France starts and they leave the area. Something tells me this video footage could be very helpful to investigators.
According to the Guardian, Hoogerland needed 33 stitches, while Flecha had X-rays on his elbow and a gash on his knee. However, both will continue riding into stage 10 of the Tour de France.
Team Sky, who represents Fletcha, is considering legal action while they perform their own investigation into the incident. Vacansoleil, who represents Hoogerland, is weighing their options.
Police looking into car accident at Tour [AP via ESPN]
During Sunday's ninth stage of the Tour de France, this video footage shows a Tour television technician's car attempting to pass a group of riders along a narrow road. The car swerved to avoid a tree and sideswiped Spanish rider Juan Antonio Flecha, who then bumped into Dutch racer Johnny Hoogerland. Flecha rolled over the front wheel of his bike and into the road, while Hoogerland got knocked off of his bike and into a barbed wire fence on the side of the road. Flecha was fortunate he was not hit by the car behind him.
According to the AP, French police are investigating the crash and investigators are acting quickly to interview witnesses to the crash, including the riders, before the next stage of the Tour de France starts and they leave the area. Something tells me this video footage could be very helpful to investigators.
According to the Guardian, Hoogerland needed 33 stitches, while Flecha had X-rays on his elbow and a gash on his knee. However, both will continue riding into stage 10 of the Tour de France.
Team Sky, who represents Fletcha, is considering legal action while they perform their own investigation into the incident. Vacansoleil, who represents Hoogerland, is weighing their options.
Police looking into car accident at Tour [AP via ESPN]
Moonlighting as a blogger to pursue my interest and enjoyment of sports. Former high school and Division I athlete (now a "retired" family man) that loves watching and discussing all sports. Follow me on Twitter (@HoldoutSports) and like Holdout Sports on Facebook.
