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BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON – The Belgian Philippe Gilbert was forced to retire from the Tour de France on Tuesday with a broken left kneecap after a spectacular fall in a ravine on the 16th stage.
Gilbert, 57 km from the finish and leading the 16th stage of 218 km where he badly negotiated a turn and stole the first head on a wall.
Although he was helped on his bike to finish the stage, won by his French teammate Julian Alaphilippe, Gilbert emerged from the X-ray truck suffering from his efforts.
His team said that after other tests in a Toulouse hospital, the fracture was discovered, meaning that he had to withdraw from the race.
"I want to say that I am happy to be here after this difficult time," he said. "It was not like that that I wanted to finish my Tour and leave it like that really hurt me."
The Quick-Step bosses panicked when Gilbert broke through the wall – it was in the same descent, though several miles down. Fabio Casartelli died in a horrific accident in 1995.
Negotiating a sharp left turn, Gilbert failed to brake in time, skidded and was sent flying head first on a parapet for land on rocks several meters below. TV pictures show officials helping him back on the road, where he carefully jumps on his bike to finish the race
"We played well, I attacked to put some pressure on our group, I wanted to help Julian," adds Gilbert. "In 1965 tactically, we did well, but I crashed and everything was my fault.I just took the wrong line.I fell on rocks and, when I landed, I thought I had was broken.I've had a chance to escape. "
The race ends Sunday on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Agence France-Presse (AFP)
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