Ten Dam and Kelderman involved in heavy crash in Tour’s third stage
A heavy crash dominated the third stage of the Tour de France from Antwerp to Huy. Wilco Kelderman was involved in it and Laurens Ten Dam’s shoulder was dislocated because of it. After his shoulder was popped back in, he finished the stage. Robert Gesink place 14th up the Mur de Huy, 22 seconds behind winner Joaquím Rodriguez (Team Katusha).
With around 50 kilometres to go, a big crash occurred on the right side of the peloton. Several riders abandoned the race because of it and it looked like Laurens ten Dam was one of them. His shoulder was dislocated.
“I said that they had to pop my shoulder back in,” Ten Dam said. “I have trained very hard, so I don’t want to abandon the race even before we enter France. As long as I’m in the race, it’s possible that I can recover. Tomorrow, I’m going to try it on the cobblestones. It will be painful, but afterwards, I have four days to recover. The Alps are just in two weeks and maybe everything is different at that moment.”
A tough one
“His bike was already on top of the car,” sports director Nico Verhoeven said. “We thought that he was out of the race, but he said that he didn’t want to leave the Tour and that his shoulder had to be popped back in. When we knew that the race was neutralised, he was able to return quietly. He was chatting quickly afterwards. Laurens is a tough one.” Kelderman came out of his crash with several abrasions. He is going to start on Tuesday as well.
Robert Gesink was glad that he came through the chaos without too much damage. “I passed it quiet good. The race was neutralised. That’s hard because the peloton is really stressed out at a moment like that. In the end, it didn’t escalate anymore, fortunately.
“The final was tough. A finish on the Mur de Huy is always spectacular and exciting. Bram Tankink brought me in good position for the Cote de Cherave and I gave everything I had on the Mur de Huy. It was my maximum.”
Space
The stage to Cambrai on Tuesday has seven cobbled sections, which suits Sep Vanmarcke. “I’m allowed to go for my own chances,” the Belgian said. “But the general classification of our front men is even more important, of course. Only Robert is well placed at this moment, so I will get some more space from the team.”
