A confused spectator caused a massive pile-up at today's Tour de France, ruling race favourite Alberto Contador out of contention for the opening stage.
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Bet on Cycling..Defending champion Contador was among the casualties when - with eight kilometres to go - a woman standing at the side of the road looked the other way at just the wrong time.
She collided with an Astana rider, bringing down a dozen other cyclists and leading to a pile up that delayed many more.
While Contador would have been an unlikely stage winner, the delay means he and many others lost time on rivals as the incident broke the peloton in half.
Belgian world number one Philippe Gilbert won the stage, with Australian Cadel Evans second. Norway's Thor Hushovd was third.
The other main contenders, brothers Andy and Franck Schleck, were not involved in the crash and finished safely in the main group.
Welshman Geraint Thomas, racing for British hopefuls Team Sky, came sixth, six seconds off the winning time.
Team-mate Bradley Wiggins - who is an outside tip for the title - crashed in a separate incident but did not lose time as it was close to the finish.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/02072011/58/tour-de-france-confused-woman-causes-tour-pile.html
Related LinksGilbert wins as Contador suffers
Video:
Crazy Tour crashVideo:
Tour: Stage one last minuteWatch the Tour every day LIVE in Eurosport
Watch LIVE on the Player
Bet on Cycling..Defending champion Contador was among the casualties when - with eight kilometres to go - a woman standing at the side of the road looked the other way at just the wrong time.
She collided with an Astana rider, bringing down a dozen other cyclists and leading to a pile up that delayed many more.
While Contador would have been an unlikely stage winner, the delay means he and many others lost time on rivals as the incident broke the peloton in half.
Belgian world number one Philippe Gilbert won the stage, with Australian Cadel Evans second. Norway's Thor Hushovd was third.
The other main contenders, brothers Andy and Franck Schleck, were not involved in the crash and finished safely in the main group.
Welshman Geraint Thomas, racing for British hopefuls Team Sky, came sixth, six seconds off the winning time.
Team-mate Bradley Wiggins - who is an outside tip for the title - crashed in a separate incident but did not lose time as it was close to the finish.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/02072011/58/tour-de-france-confused-woman-causes-tour-pile.html
