Cervélo TestTeam had a tough ride at the end of the first stage in the Etoile de Bessèges today, with Daniel Lloyd ending up in the hospital. In the final meters of the 146 kilometer ride from Aigues-Mortes to Le Grau-du-Ro, Lloyd was working to setup the sprint for teammate Dominique Rollin, but an untimely crash by the British rider saw a their train derail.
"We tried to do something in the final for Dominique Rollin but Daniel Lloyd, who was his last man, crashed in the final kilometre and then our chances were gone," explained sports director Alex Sans Vega.
Last year Lloyd rode in the Tour of Qatar to start off his year, finishing fourth overall behind teammates Roger Hammond and Heinrich Haussler and race winner Tom Boonen (Quick Step).
"Daniel is now at the hospital for observation," said Sans Vega, as a result of the pile up. Vacansoleil sprinter Borut Bozic notched up the team's first victory of 2010 in the race today, ahead of Nico Eeckhout and Arnaud Molmy.
"Vacansoleil will try to control the race again tomorrow in order to hold onto the yellow jersey," predicted Sans Vega, "however we will certainly try something when we find the opportunity."
This year with newcomers in the peloton like Team RadioShack and Team Sky also competing for Tour wild card invitations, the stakes in the early season are extremely high. Success for Vacansoleil or Cervélo TestTeam now could make the difference in a start at Tour de France this July.