The 2015 Tour de France may only be in the fourth stage but it has already been full of action, excitement and injuries. During Stage 3 on Monday the 6th of July, the race had to be temporarily halted after a horrific double crash brought twenty cyclists down.
Whilst the majority of cyclists escaped with a few grazes and scratches and managed to complete the stage, others suffered more serious injuries. All on all, 6 cyclists were forced to withdraw from Le Tour, Cycling News reports.
In a true test to endurance, race leader Fabian Cancellara, who was involved in the crash, managed to complete the stage despite suffering two fractured vertebrae.
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Take a look at these excruciating injuries:
Race leader on at the time, Fabian Cancellara from Switzerland was forced to withdraw from the Tour de France after suffering two transverse process fractures to the vertebrae at the lower back. According to a statement by sponsor Trek Factory Racing, the injuries were to the C3 and C4 vertebrae.
Cancellara is disappointed that he cannot continue after suffering a similar injury last year, “The team was on a high with the yellow jersey and were very motivated to defend it. We have had a lot of crashes and injuries since the start of the season, and we finally had a great 24 hours but now it’s back to bad luck. One day you win, one day you lose.”
Michael Matthews rides on