Dog causes crash in 1st stage of Tour de France
Dog causes crash in 1st stage of Tour de France
BRUSSELS, Belgium—Several crashes marred the first stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, with Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso and David Millar of Britain falling off their bikes after a dog ran in front of the peloton.
Millar and Basso, who is returning to the Tour for the first time in four years after serving a doping ban, were back on their bikes after the crash that occurred about 56 kilometers after the start. They were able to rejoin the main bunch with the help of their teammates.
Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara is wearing the leader’s yellow jersey after the opening-day prologue time trial. Sunday’s first stage is a 223.5-kilometer trek through Belgian and Dutch lowlands from Rotterdam to Brussels.
Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong is fourth overall and is the highest-placed of the expected title contenders in the 195-man field.
Cancellara won the prologue with Armstrong 22 seconds behind and Alberto Contador—the 2009 winner and prerace favorite—in sixth, 27 seconds back.
Portugal’s Manuel Cardoso and Swiss rider Mathias Frank didn’t start Sunday after crashing out with injuries on Saturday.
Australian Adam Hansen was also involved in a crash around the 40-kilometer mark and hurt his left collarbone.
Stage 1 • Rotterdam > Bruxelles • 223.5 km
Stage 1 Profile
Stage 1 Profile
Renowned for its architecture, the Dutch city of Rotterdam has earned an international reputation for its striking, modern constructions. The devastating aerial bombardment of 14 May 1940 reduced the town centre to ruins, leaving architects and town planners free to set a more modern stamp on the reconstructed city. In 1953, Rotterdam became the first European city to introduce a completely pedestrianised street, called the Lijnbaan. The ultra-modern Groothandelsgebouw building was constructed that same year, followed by the inauguration of the Euromast in 1960. The city has been transformed, with unparalleled daring and amazing technical genius, into an impressive, cosmopolitan metropolis. The Erasmus bridge by the architect Ben van Berkel, which has quickly become a symbol of the city, the Kunsthal by Rem Koolhaas and the KPN building by the Italian architect Renzo Piano are just a few examples of the architectural works which have, over recent decades, created the resolutely dynamic and inspired face of Rotterdam.
www.rotterdam.nl
Arrival: Bruxelles
Brussels, a city with a rich history dating back thousands of years, has been the capital of Europe since 1992. The “European district” is home to all the European institutions and the main EU buildings. The most well known, and the most emblematic, is the European Parliament, known as the “Caprice des Dieux” by locals due to its oval shape, reminiscent of the packaging of Caprice des Dieux cheese. This district is the hub of European life. 40,000 people work here and a mix of languages can be heard from Place du Luxembourg to the market on Place du Châtelain. However, as well as being a European city, Brussels holds an international role. It has highest number of diplomats and journalists in the world, 1,400 international organisations and NGOs are based in the Belgian capital, as well as 2,000 foreign companies. In 2010, Brussels’ position as the heart of Europe will be emphasised when it takes over the Presidency of the European Union from Spain on 1 July for six months.
www.bruxellesinternational.be
Related Posts
-
Tour de France - Facts and Figures [/caption] The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race that covers approximately 3,600 kilometres (2,200 mi) throughout France and... -
10 Historic Events Then and Now [/caption] As we come to the close of another year I always look forward to the year in facts, it... -
Marseille Travel Guide [/caption] The following Marseille travel guide provides tourists with important information about this French city. Situated on France’s south east... -
Top 10 Travel Destinations of 2010 [/caption] Every year the travel book supergiant Lonely Planet releases its list of the coming year’s top travel locations, from... -
Visit Germany: The UN-Official Guide [/caption] The territory of Germany covers 357,021 km2 (137,847 sq mi), consisting of 349,223 km2 (134,836 sq mi) of land...
-
Is Bike Touring For You? [/caption]If you own a bike and ride it frequently, it's not a stretch to say you have an adventurous spirit.... -
Bushnell Tour V2 Series Pinseeker Rangefinder User Reviews Send this to a friend Bushnell Tour V2 Series Pinseeker Rangefinder Manufacturer: Bushnell Customer Rating: List Price: Varies... -
Lance Armstrong Set to win Eighth Tour de France? Lance Armstrong is going to attempt to win the Tour de France for an eighth time, coming out of retirement... -
Why Do You Want To Be Rich? This is a guest post by Joel Reese, the managing editor of We Seed, a site that helps everyday people... -
AEG: L.A. City Attorney Bullied Us Over Jackson Los Angeles is a city world renowned for its strange stories, but few come curiouser than the tale of audacious,...
