Tour de France contender Kloden takes a tumble

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

AUTUN, France (AFP) — Germany's yellow jersey contender Andreas Kloden gave his Astana team a scare by tumbling into a ditch during the fifth stage of the Tour de France on Thursday.

Kloden tumbled into a ditch at the left-hand side of the road, near the 107km mark of the 182.5km ride from Chablis to Autun, as the peloton continued their pursuit of a four-man breakaway.

The German, a runner-up in 2004 and who finished third in the race last year, lay briefly on the ground before getting back on his bike and continuing the stage.

It was unclear whether he had sustained any injuries in the fall.

Kloden's teammates Daniel Navarro and Paolo Savoldelli waited for him, in order to bring him back to the peloton in their slipstream, and he soon caught up...