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ysobelle7:32:21 - No Crash For Hushovd
Hushovd did not crash as reported earlier but he did sustain an injury in the final straight when his right elbow was caught on something held over the barriers by a spectator.
Yesterday's winner, Norwegian Thor Hushovd, crossed the line with the leaders, and was almost immediately on the ground, clutching his arm, his bike shorts and the maillot jaune spattered with the blood streaming down a gash right below his sleeve. Going over and over film of the final few metres, it looks like he was hit with something, and crossed the line already bleeding copiously. An accident? One hopes. Someone deciding to make a rider the Monica Seles of cycling? One hopes not.
184.5km today, from Strasbourg to Strasbourg (how convenient!), dipping briefly into Germany before the return. A beautiful, if hot, day. Excitingly, Discovery Team's George Hincapie, wearing the green points-leader jersey, added points in a sprint near the end of the stage and, with the accompanying two second time bonus, has traded up to the yellow jersey. No team dominated at the end of the stage: it was a finish for sprinters, with the first over the line Jimmy Casper of Cofidis by half a wheel.
Best wishes for Thor, of course. He was taken away in an ambulance: let's hope it's just a few stitches, and he'll be back tomorrow.
ETA:
Jimmy Casper wins first stage of Tour de France; Hincapie takes overall lead
11:56:29 EDT Jul 2, 2006
STRASBOURG, France (CP) - Frenchman Jimmy Casper has taken the first stage of the Tour de France by winning a sprint finish.
American George Hincapie took the overall race lead.
Norwegian rider Thor Hushovd sliced open his arm and bled profusely after being squeezed against the barriers that line the route in the final sprint. The Tour doctor said Hushovd, who may need stitches, should be able to continue.
Hushovd had been the race leader going into the first stage after winning Saturday's opening prologue time trial. But Hincapie picked up bonus time on a sprint section in Sunday's route to vault into the lead.
© The Canadian Press, 2006
Hushovd did not crash as reported earlier but he did sustain an injury in the final straight when his right elbow was caught on something held over the barriers by a spectator.
Yesterday's winner, Norwegian Thor Hushovd, crossed the line with the leaders, and was almost immediately on the ground, clutching his arm, his bike shorts and the maillot jaune spattered with the blood streaming down a gash right below his sleeve. Going over and over film of the final few metres, it looks like he was hit with something, and crossed the line already bleeding copiously. An accident? One hopes. Someone deciding to make a rider the Monica Seles of cycling? One hopes not.
184.5km today, from Strasbourg to Strasbourg (how convenient!), dipping briefly into Germany before the return. A beautiful, if hot, day. Excitingly, Discovery Team's George Hincapie, wearing the green points-leader jersey, added points in a sprint near the end of the stage and, with the accompanying two second time bonus, has traded up to the yellow jersey. No team dominated at the end of the stage: it was a finish for sprinters, with the first over the line Jimmy Casper of Cofidis by half a wheel.
Best wishes for Thor, of course. He was taken away in an ambulance: let's hope it's just a few stitches, and he'll be back tomorrow.
ETA:
Jimmy Casper wins first stage of Tour de France; Hincapie takes overall lead
11:56:29 EDT Jul 2, 2006
STRASBOURG, France (CP) - Frenchman Jimmy Casper has taken the first stage of the Tour de France by winning a sprint finish.
American George Hincapie took the overall race lead.
Norwegian rider Thor Hushovd sliced open his arm and bled profusely after being squeezed against the barriers that line the route in the final sprint. The Tour doctor said Hushovd, who may need stitches, should be able to continue.
Hushovd had been the race leader going into the first stage after winning Saturday's opening prologue time trial. But Hincapie picked up bonus time on a sprint section in Sunday's route to vault into the lead.
© The Canadian Press, 2006