Jean-Christophe Péraud (Ag2r-La Mondiale) has been forced to withdraw from the Tour de France after crashing heavily in the stage 17 time trial on Wednesday. The Frenchman started in Embrun despite suffering a fractured collarbone in a training crash earlier in the day.
Péraud, who sat in ninth overall at 8-47 minutes before the start of the day, crashed on the first of two descents while reconnoitring the 32-kilometre time trial to Chorges. He then crashed heavily on the same side just two kilometres from the finish during the actual stage.
The time trial covered the Côte de Puy-Sanières and the Côte de Réallon, with the Puy-Sanières descent more technical.
"[He] suffers from a fracture of the outer end of the right clavicle. However, he will take the start of the 17th of the Tour de France," read a press release issued by Ag2r prior to the stage start. "This decision has been taken in coordination with Eric Bouvat, the medical director of the Ag2r-La Mondiale team."
Péraud returned from his ride with his jersey ripped and his right arm bloodied.
Bouvat told journalist outside the Tour's mobile X-ray lab, "It's a small fracture that won't prevent him from riding but he's going to feel a lot of pain."
However, Péraud's Tour finally drew to a close after his second crash of the day.
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Tour de France 2013: Stage reports
Stage 16: Costa takes solo win as Froome put under pressure
Stage 15: Froome wins on Mont Ventoux to extend lead
Stage 14: Trentin wins from break
Stage 13: Cavendish wins, Valverde loses on stage 13
Stage 12: Kittel out-sprints Cavendish
Stage 11: Martin wins time trial as Froome extends lead
Stage 10: Kittel takes second stage win
Stage nine: Martin wins stage as Froome fights to keep lead
Stage eight: Froome wins Tour mountains stage to take overall lead
Stage seven: Sagan scores first win of 2013 Tour
Stage six: Greipel wins as Impey moves into lead
Stage five: Cavendish wins; Gerrans keeps lead
Stage four: Orica win Tour's team time trial to put Gerrans in yellow
Stage three: Gerrans outpaces Sagan to take win
Stage two: Millar denied yellow as Bakelants takes spoils
Lessons learnt by Team Sky after Tour visits Pyrenees
Was Sunday (stage nine) a missed opportunity for Froome's rivals?
Rest day review (July 8)
Tour de France: 100 Tours, 1,000 stories
Tour de France 2013: Photo galleries
Stage 16 by Graham Watson
Stage 15 by Graham Watson
Stage 14 by Graham Watson
Stage 13 by Graham Watson
Stage 12 by Graham Watson
Stage 11 by Graham Watson
Stage 10 by Graham Watson
Stage nine by Andy Jones
Stage nine by Graham Watson
Stage eight by Andy Jones
Stage eight by Graham Watson
Stage seven by Andy Jones
Stage seven by Graham Watson
Stage six by Andy Jones
Stage six by Graham Watson
Stage five by Andy Jones
Stage five by Graham Watson
Stage four by Andy Jones
Stage four by Graham Watson
Stage three by Graham Watson
Stage two by Graham Watson
Stage one by Graham Watson
Team presentation by Graham Watson
Related links
Tour de France 2013: Coverage index
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