Houston's Lawson Craddock crushes the Tour de France

By Dale Robertson Houston Chronicle

posted

18h04 CDT, Saturday 7 July 2018

The second start of Lawson Craddock's Tour de France on Saturday could not have a much worse start. But the only Houstonian to have competed in the richer cycling event was able to finish the first leg despite a food zone crash that left him a fractured shoulder and a bloody cut overhead from his left eye. ride on Sunday.

Craddock, 26, said on Twitter later, "A broken shoulder blade and a few stitches are not the way I wanted to start @LeTour, but this Texan will fight as much as I can to continue . I am going to donate $ 100 to @AlkekVelodrome for Harvey Relief for every step I can complete. Does anyone want to do the same thing? "

He received a big cheer when he crossed the finish line at Fontenay-le-Comte last among 176 runners." Charlie Wegelius, athletic director of the EF-Drapac team, said that Craddock had been given the green light to stay on the bike as long as he felt that he was not endangering himself or any other riders. </ P> <p> Supported by the yellow jersey contender. EF-Drapac, Rigoberto Urán, was supposed to play an important role in Monday's team time-trial before his fall.

Wegelius called Craddock's crackup "a big blow, even though (l 39; scapula) is not broken and it continues. It was one of our great assets for the team time trial, so it's a little disappointing. "

Former National Junior Road Race Champion, Craddock completed the first Tour that he started in 2016 when the team was sponsored by Cannondale before going through a season full of problems in 2017, only failing to list the Tour's eight players In an interview on Thursday, he had said: "Last year was so difficult, but the team supported me to return to my level normal. I am so grateful for that. And I'm here to pay them back and do everything I can to help Rigo win the Tour. "

If he can – or should – attempt to continue the three – week run, almost 2,100 miles seems to be rising in the air despite his assertion that he 's at it. planning to be on the starting line at Mouilleron-Saint-Germain on Sunday morning.

"He did (until the end today)," said Wegelius , "and now we will evaluate the situation."