Armstrong involved in 3rd crash, dealing major blow to Texan’s hopes for 8th title
By APSunday, July 11, 2010
Third crash deals blow to Armstrong’s title hopes
LES ROUSSES, France — Three crashes have dealt a major blow to Lance Armstrong’s hopes for an eighth Tour victory, with his main rivals building a substantial lead during Sunday’s eighth stage.
The Texan went down negotiating a roundabout with under 32 miles to go just before the first big Alpine climb and then was held up by a rider who crashed in front of him with about 12 miles to go.
The seven-time Tour winner had narrowly averted an earlier pileup that occurred about 4 miles into the 117.4-mile run.
Armstrong’s RadioShack team quickly got him another bike after the second incident and he returned to the race — with the back of his jersey and his bib numbers torn.
Three teammates escorted him back to the pack, with just a few miles to go before the climb that Armstrong had called “key” during the stage — the 8.8-mile ascent of La Ramaz pass.
Cadel Evans — who was second overall — fell in the first crash, ripping his shorts and scraping up his elbow and knees.
