Top ten general classification position prompts Frenchman to push on towards Paris
Although he fractured his collarbone in a crash this morning, the Ag2r La Mondiale team have confirmed that Jean Christophe Peraud will continue in the Tour de France, the Frenchman pressing on in today’s time trial.
Peraud fell near the halfway point of the course when doing a reconnaissance of the route for the difficult and very technical test. He hit the ground hard and suffered a shoulder injury which was assessed by doctors.
He was diagnosed with a fracture on the outer end of his right clavicle, but as the bone remains in place, he will not drop out of the race.
“He will take the start of the 17th of the Tour de France,” the squad confirmed. “This decision has been taken in coordination with Eric Bouvat, the medical director of the Ag2r La Mondiale team.”
Peraud has been riding well in the race and is ninth overall in the general classification. He is also the best French rider, a statistic which is a very important one in that country and for home teams.
He is eight minutes 47 seconds behind race leader Chris Froome, and four minutes 22 seconds off third overall.
It remains to be seen if he will be able to hold an aerodynamic position in today’s race against the clock, as well as how the injury will affect him in the days ahead.