Fall and abandonment of Richie Porte before the first paved areas

The Australian Richie Porte (BMC) fell shortly after the start of the 9th stage of the Tour de France in Arras on Sunday and retired.

Porte, one of the contenders At the final podium, he found himself on the ground in a fall on the 8th kilometer, with a dozen other runners. Long before the first paved area of ​​this stage of 156.5 kilometers.

The Australian, who stood the right shoulder, got into the ambulance of the medical service of the race.

In the standings, the recent winner of the Tour de Suisse, was 10th at 57 seconds behind his team-mate and yellow jersey holder Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium

Last year, Porte also gave up after a serious fall, in the descent of the Mont du Chat, in the 9th stage already.

In the Tour, the Australian who is 33 years old has for best result a 5th place in 2016. Long favorite lieutenant of the Briton Chris Froome, Porte a left the Sky team at the end of 205 to become a full-fledged leader

The Pole Tomasz Marczynski (Lotto), winner of two stages last year in the Vuelta, and the Spaniard Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar), a teammate of Colombian Nairo Qu intana, have also given up trying to continue the Tour after less than half an hour of racing