Latest News

Race report: Farrar crashes hard in Vuelta finale

August 26, 2011 - Filed under: Team Garmin-Barracuda

Comments (0)

The argyle armada worked hard to set up sprinter Tyler Farrar in the sprint finish in Friday’s 182.9km seventh stage from Almadén to Talavera de la Reina. But Farrar and another rider collided in the closing meters sending them and other riders to the ground in hard crash.

Even though he hit the ground hard after a few minutes Farrar was able to get on his bike and ride across the finish line with the help of his teammates. He was taken immediately by ambulance to a local hospital, where he underwent evaluation.

He suffered severe contusions on his left hip but preliminary x-rays show no broken bones.
Tyler’s goal is to take the start tomorrow, but team medical staff will continue to monitor his injuries tonight and will determine the best course of action for Tyler in the morning.

“It’s a shame that Tyler crashed because the team did a great job all day,” said Garmin-Cervélo rider Maurilo Fischer.

“We worked to control the breakaway and then Andreas Klier, Heinrich Haussler and then me put Tyler in good position for the sprint. I got him on Bennati’s wheel with 400 meters to go and sat up. I didn’t see the crash, but when you fall at that speed, it’s never good. We hope he’s OK.”

The 66th Vuelta continues with the hilly 177.3km eighth stage Saturday from Talavera de la Reina to San Lorenzo de el Escorial. The route features three rated climbs and ends with a short, but steep climb on cobblestones.

Garmin-Cervélo’s Christophe Le-Mével said he is still trying to recover from his own high-speed crash early in the Vuelta.

“This Vuelta is very hard this year. The weather is very hot and there are a lot of riders with big motivation. I don’t’ have good recuperation from my crash,” he said. “I am a little bit better, but I do not have good sensations.

There are still two weeks, so I hope to have some good sensations before this Vuelta is over.”