2008 Tour De France Stage 15 - Sunday, July 20: Embrun - Prato Nevoso, 183km - Page 4

And there have been a few close calls already. Maybe the combination of the wind and narrow road. There are no guard rails in most places. Hope nobody goes off the road.

There have been some abandons today. Other than Mark Cavendish, Mark Renshaw and Stijn Devolder have retired.

I wonder what happened to Devolder?

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Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.
-- Albert Einstein

He seemed to be suffering and was dropped in the climb. I don't know if he is ill.

The weather has taken a turn for the worse, and it is now raining. Voeckler, who attacked near the top of the climb for mountain points seems to be going off on his own, with a few riders trying to follow him.

I think he does this every stage. The dude should save his strength so he can make one real attempt once a week.

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"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

Pereiro crashed.

oscar pierieo just went over the barrier & fell to the road below ! He has not moved. Looks bad.

10ft drop at least....

The peloton is going slow ATM waiting for news on Pereiro presumably, and the gap has increased by almost 4 minutes to 15:15.

The Eurosport commentators said they are hearing that it could be a broken collar bone for Pereiro.

Given how the gap is now 16:15 with just 80 km to go, it looks like the peloton is content with letting the four escapees go and take the stage win.

He's been taken to hospital - Pereiro out!

Looks like he went over the guard rail and fell to the road below - nasty. Multiple fractures.

The official site reports fractures to both shoulder and femur.

Yes. Eurosport just confirmed. It looked very ugly. He could have died.....

Lampre on the front. Cunego wants the win.

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

But can they chase down a 16 minute gap with only 60 km to go?