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ERIC LALMAND/Belga/Press Association Images
Game Over

Nasty crash ends Roche's Dauphiné challenge

Christophe Kern (Team Europcar) took today’s fifth stage into Les Gets.

TODAY’S MOUNTAIN STAGE of the Critérium du Dauphiné should have seen Nicolas Roche consolidate his challenge for a top-ten finish and reinforce his credentials as an outside bet for this year’s Tour de France.

Instead, the afternoon ended in a whole lot of pain as the Irishman was involved in a nasty crash 20 kilometres from the finish line, killing any hopes he might have had of gaining ground on the yellow jersey.

It was a hugely disappointing day for Roche, who had started this morning a little over three minutes behind race leader, Bradley Wiggins. By the day’s end, as the battered and bruised cyclist gamely fought his way over the finish line, that gap had grown to 28 minutes and 23 seconds.

The turning point came as the race entered its closing stages when Roche collided with a number of riders, including Andy Cappelle of Quick Step, bruising his upper leg badly as he ploughed into a concrete barrier.

If there was any trace of a silver lining to the day, it was that the 26-year-old did not appear to be badly hurt, an obvious concern with this year’s Tour de France just over three weeks away.

Ag2r-La Mondiale’s team manager Vincent Lavenu confirmed afterwards to French televisions that his rider hadn’t sustained a fracture as had been initially feared.

It’s a disillusion for him, he wanted to do well at the Dauphiné and it’s game over now.

Cappelle wasn’t so fortunate. After lying prostrate on the ground, he was whisked to hospital where he is reportedly being treated for fractures to his ribs and collarbone.

It was a much more successful day for the other Irish challenger, Daniel Martin (Team Garmin-Cervelo) who finished in eighth place, nine seconds behind the stage winner Christophe Kern (Team Europcar).

Denmark’s Chris Sorensen (Saxo Bank SunGard) finished in second place with Kern’s team-mate Thomas Voeckler in third.

Race leader Bradley Wiggins held on to the yellow jersey, maintaining his 1’11″ lead over Australian Cadel Evans with an impressive sixth-place finish.

Tomorrow’s penultimate stage sees the remaining riders travel 192 kilometres south from Les Gets to Le Collet d’Allevard.