Tour de France Temporarily Halted After Horror High-Speed Crash Involving Yellow Jersey Wearer Fabian Cancellara
- The Tour de France was brought to a stop by a huge crash leaving four riders unable to resume on Stage Three
- Racing was delayed for more than 10 minutes after the high-speed collision involving more than 20 riders
- Yellow Jersey wearer Fabian Cancellara was involved in the huge pile-up that left racers requiring medical treatment
- Riders were travelling at more than 50kmph when the crash occurred 100km into the third stage
Daily Mail UK, 6 July 2015
The Tour de France was temporarily brought to a halt by one of the worst crashes in the history of the race during Stage Three on Monday. Fabian Cancellara, wearer of the Yellow Jersey, was involved in the high-speed collision with several other riders with about 50km of the third stage left.
The Tour de France was temporarily brought to a halt by one of the worst crashes in the history of the race during Stage Three on Monday.
Fabian Cancellara, wearer of the Yellow Jersey, was involved in the high-speed collision with several other riders with about 50km left, causing at least four riders to abandon.
The crash, involving more than 20 riders, was so severe that the race had to be stopped for more than 10 minutes as riders received medical treatment.
A rider falls (centre of the picture) after clipping the rider in front before several other racers collided, causing a huge pile up
The riders behind have nowhere to go and crash into the fallen cyclist at speeds of up to 50kmph, before hitting the tarmac
You can make out the Yellow Jersey of Fabian Cancellara (bottom left) go head first into the slope after he is thrown from his bike
Tour de France leader Cancellara lies on his back on a grass verge, grimacing in pain after coming off his bike during a huge collision
Someone rushes to Cancellara's assistance as numerous other fallen riders assess their injuries after the high-speed crash
Race leader and yellow jersey holder Cancellara gets to his feet, still visibly in pain, as he looks to get his injuries assessed
Riders lay stricken on the floor in the aftermath of the horror crash on Stage Three of the famous race
A battered and bruised William Bonnet receives medical treatment on the roadside, with his cuts and scrapes clearly visible
Frenchman Bonnet, who had to retire from the Stage, has his neck strapped in a brace after the crash by medical staff
Riders were travelling flat out at up to 50kmh when William Bonnet clipped the wheel of Warren Barguil in front and was sent crashing to the tarmac.
The fallen Bonnet caused those behind to come down too with officials immediately stopping the race as doctors and team members tended to the injured riders both on the tarmac and on the roadside.
Cancellara appeared to be one of the worst affected by the incident but looked as though he wanted to continue despite seeming dazed and disorientated.
The Swiss rider can be seen in replays of the incident flying over his handlebars at alarming speed but groggily made his way back on the saddle.
Injured riders are left in a heap on the grass at the side of the road as they are treated by medics following the mass pile-up
Bonnet, Tom Dumoulin, Simon Gerrans and Dmity Kozontchuk have all abandoned the Stage with Dutchman Dumoulin on his way to hospital, though the extent of his injuries are not yet known.
It is thought that the reason the race had to be stopped was because of the number of doctors that had to stay behind at the scene would have meant it was unsafe for the peloton to ride ahead.