Sam Bennett has taken to the start of stage two of the 2016 Tour de France despite picking up some nasty injuries in a crash on the opening day.
The Irishman was taken down in a crash after riders collided with barriers coming into the final straight. Bennett said he was unable to react in time after a number of riders came down in front of him.
>>> Alberto Contador defiant despite first day crash at Tour de France
His Bora-Argon 18 team confirmed on Sunday morning that he would take to the start, having injured his hand quite badly, requiring stitches, but avoided any fractures.
.@sammmy_be will be on the start line of stage 2 #TDF2016 https://t.co/9549leEWMG via @audioBoom
— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) July 3, 2016
The crash took place after Katusha rider Michael Morkov collided with a barrier, causing him to fall extremely heavily and snap his bike in pieces in the high-speed crash.
He too managed to walk away with no broken bones, as did Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange), who fell behind Morkov along with Bennett.
This is the bike of @MichaelMorkov after the crash today; he's ok! pic.twitter.com/x7eVXCJzpJ
— Team KATUSHA ALPECIN (@katushacycling) July 2, 2016
Every rider has started the 183km second stage of the Tour to Cherbourg, despite a number of crashes earlier in the day which saw Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) and Brent Bookwalter (BMC) come down together in a crash, and Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe also hit the tarmac.
