Columbiafan

MASSIVE FALL BY PEREIO dang that really is not good

key

oh god... he went into a barrier and rolled down the other side across the road.

apparently hes up and riding and the peleton are waiting for him

EDIT: nope. hes gone to hospital with suspected fractured shoulder and femur

jaxgtr

Peiero is gone. Broken leg and shoulder

stewartp

i before e except after "CRUNCH"

Here's hoping he hangs on.

edited to add:

Oh bugger I see he's badly injured.

2wheeled

That's too bad for Pereiro, he would have spiced things up a little on the last climb.

2wheeled

From Velo news:
Race Radio says Peirero is being transported to the hospital with a suspected fractured shoulder and femur.

Folks, he fell about 30 feet when he crashed over the barrier and then landed on the road below. He's lucky that he didn't suffer a head injury, but this is an awful way to leave the Tour.

key

that was a very very scary crash.

stewartp

and they're all down on their asses, Millar, Vandervelde + others

BananaTugger

The biggest wreck I've seen has just occurred.

At least 40 riders down, on both sides of a roundabout. O.o

Lots of bent wheels and roadrash for all.

2wheeled

Another crash...vande velde & cunego. Up and riding again though.

skinny

I don't understand why they don't route the entire peloton around one side of the roundabouts. This whole splitting and rejoining of the peloton while evading these obstacles is an invitation to disaster.

BananaTugger

I've always worried about the rejoining part, but nothing has come of it yet.

The problem with roundabouts is the accumulated oil, diesel and other crap on the road from cars driving around in circles.

These guys are pros, with pro handling skills. As such, navigating a roundabout while riding in a large group is well within their comfort zone on the bike.

Losing a front wheel to something you can't see, is something that no one can prepare for.

2wheeled

Those roundabouts are never usually a problem, there've already gone through 2-3 since the crash. There must have been oil or something on the road to see that many riders wheels just slip away from them.

2wheeled

The bunch is really putting down the hammer but surely they can't catch the break now.

skinny

roundabouts have historically been a problem. there are crashes every year at roundabouts, not only in the tdf, but in other races. they should route the riders around one side, but that would diminish the spectacle, especially for tv viewers who love the helicopter camera views of the riders splitting and rejoining.

2wheeled

Well, that's true...thinking back to that crash a day two ago where the bike was servered in two because of an island in the middle of the road.

I was thinking how many times they negotiate the roundabouts on a daily bases times every day in the tour.

2wheeled

Martinez is looking strong in the break. CSC are dragging the bunch along at 70k's. They're trying to isolate Evans.

skinny

Sean Kelly thinks Martinez could be creating a big problem for the leaders. He is a good climber and this may really screw the pooch for the top gc contenders, but i see now egoi was 53 minutes down at the start today, so he'll have no impact on gc.

2wheeled

Evens is alone and CSC are now playing their hand.

smoke

as long as he stays close, i think evans would be thrilled to let schleck have to defend the jersey in the alps. let it go here and get it back at the time trial. force csc to work hard the next two stages

2wheeled

Menchov slips on the corner after attacking the gc group.

BananaTugger

Menchov = EPIC LULZ.

dutret

makes it back up and attacks again.

2wheeled

Evans is cracking. What a great stage.

2wheeled

Kohl, Sastre & Menchov forcing the pace, Valvarde bridging the gap and Evans losing a little time.