Gunning to improve on Tuesday’s runner-up slot by taking his second stage win of the race, Andre Greipel instead got caught up in a big crash which occurred just inside the final three kilometres of today’s stage of the Tour.
The German rider didn’t himself go down, but he was delayed behind his fallen team-mates Greg Henderson, and Marcel Sieberg, losing his chance. Meanwhile ahead, his compatriot Marcel Kittel triumphed.
“In full preparation of the sprint at three kilometres from the end, two riders touched each other just next to the Lotto Belisol sprint train, which was being led by Adam Hansen,” the team said in a communication this evening, clarifying what exactly happened. “The Aussie [Hansen] could avoid crashing, but Sieberg and Henderson hit the ground. Roelandts got caught up in the tumult but didn’t crash and Greipel had to brake to avoid it.”
He eventually rolled in 33rd, well outside the points for the green jersey he is chasing. He has another chance tomorrow as stage thirteen is a flat, fast one, but may be stymied somewhat by the injuries which affected his team-mates today.
“Marcel Sieberg has a bruise on his right knee, Greg Henderson an open wound at the left elbow which had to be stitched and another rider bumped into the already tortured back of Jürgen Roelandts,” stated the squad. “We hope the three riders will be standing at the start of stage thirteen tomorrow.”