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Hushovd's injury not serious

Tour will ban giant PMU hands near finish

By AFP
Published: Jul. 2, 2006
Hushovd will make it to Monday's start.
Hushovd will make it to Monday's start.
Photo: Graham Watson

Norwegian Thor Hushovd, wearing the yellow jersey, was injured during the first stage of the Tour de France held over 184.5km here Sunday.

Hushovd was lying on the ground conscious after the dramatic end to the stage but with blood pouring out of what appeared to be a cut on his right arm.

Saturday's prologue winner was taken to hospital after he appeared to have been hit by a promotional item held by spectator as he prepared to sprint for victory. Video shows the Norwegian brushing up against a giant cardboard hand distributed by sprint jersey sponsor PMU. The items have caused accidents at the Tour in the past.

Television pictures suggested the incident was caused by a spectator waving one of the green hands - which are made of cardboard - that are handed out byone of the race's sponsors on the race's home straight.

Tour de France official doctor Gerard Porte said Hushovd's wound, which caused him to miss the sprint. Hushovd need to finish in the top three to retain the overall lead, after American George Hincapie (Discovery) - the man who finished second in Saturday's prologue - snatched two seconds of bonus time at an intermediate sprint near Sunday's finish.

"It will need a few stitches, but on first inspection it looks as though he will be able to continue in the race," said Porte.

The injury may compromise Hushovd's chances of victory in the following days, most of which could finish in bunch sprints.

Boonen, too?
World champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step) meanwhile complained of being hit by a fan's camera, an incident which forced him to stop pedaling. He failed to contend the sprint, won surprisingly by Frenchman Jimmy Casper.

"I was hit by a spectator around 300 meters from the finish line, I think it was a camera," said Boonen. "I felt hurt straight away so I stopped pedaling. I tried to get going again but it was just too painful." Boonen's team manager, Patrick Lefevere, who is also the president of the body which represents cycling teams, said organizers should stop advertising paraphernalia being handed out.

"We ask the organisers to get responsible," he said. "They have obligations to the riders first and foremost. We can't stop the spectators from waving whatever they want. But we should ask them to be careful."

Organizers agreed... to a point. By evening Tour officials decided that the giant hands would be banned in the final two kilometers in all future flat stages of the race, where mass field sprints are more likely than not.