LES ROUSSES, France (AP) — Lance Armstrong has crashed just before the first big Alpine climb in the eighth stage the Tour de France.
Seven-time winner Armstrong narrowly averted an early pileup that occurred at about 4 miles into Sunday’s 117.4-mile run, but crashed negotiating a roundabout with just under 32 miles to go.
His team quickly got him another bike and he returned to the race — with the back of his jersey and his bib numbers torn.
Three RadioShack teammates escorted him back to the pack, with just a few miles to go before the climb that Armstrong had called “key” during the stage — the 8.8-mile ascent of La Ramaz pass.
Cadel Evans — who was second overall — fell in the first crash, ripping his shorts and scraping up his elbow and knees.
