ASTANA

A 201km stage from Brussels to Spa (Belgium), with many crashes in the bunch. Particularly at the last 30 kilometres of race, on the slippery descent of Stockeu, with six of the nine riders of the Team Astana which were caught in a collective crash.

The team doctor informed us of the medical report of the day "David De la Fuente, suffered of bruises and contusions to his left elbow, at the side and the left buttock. Alberto Contador has suffered a blow and abrasions on the right hip, knee and elbow. Jesus Hernandez has abrasions on his right knee and the posterior. Paolo Tiralongo received a blow on his right knee [he was confronted with the bike Lance Armstrong] and Maxim Iglinskiy left buttock. Alexandre Vinokourov has dropped too, but there is no injury in particular." The only riders of the team that didn’t crash were Andriy Grivko, Benjamin Noval and Daniel Navarro.

Alberto Contador delivers "On this road, it was impossible not to fall. I fell in a straight line at 60km / h, just when I realized my chance of being passed without incident, every corner I saw runners on the ground, it was impossible to continue without falling." For him, the worst thing is to think that after a day like this one, tomorrow will be the stage of the pavés "it is the hardest day with the stones which strike the body, but I am optimistic. We will try to recover and put ice immediately! "Alberto has also confirmed he has decided to wait for Andy Schleck, who was one who the suffered the biggest crash in that race "When I heard that Andy was behind I ordered my team mates to stop. As I wish it would be done for me, I had to do it for him." Despite a moment of doubt "with some teams who wanted to continue forward in spite of everything, because there were many dangerous riders also, ultimately, they have acted with logic and those in front have decided to stop too. "

For this day, the team doctor concludes, "It's going to be a long night for the medical staff, but each will be able to be back on the road tomorrow!" .

Whatever happens, the riders and team staff will raise their glasses tonight to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is celebrating his 70th birthday and to the birth of the city Astana.