Cofidis rider's Tour de France ends on first stage

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

PLUMELEC, France (AFP) — Herve Duclos-Lassalle of the Cofidis team was forced out of the Tour de France after a crash on the first stage here on Saturday.

Duclos-Lassalle, the son of former Paris-Roubaix winner Gilbert, fractured his left wrist in a crash just after the first stage's feed zone according to the race's official team doctor.

Team officials later lamented the crash, which they said was caused by a rider's feed bag getting caught in Duclos-Lassalle's front wheel just as they were leaving the zone.

Doctors attending the 28-year-old Frenchman, who was competing on his first Tour, fixed a supportive brace to his injured wrist effectively ending his hopes of continuing in the race.

It means Cofidis, who were thrown out towards the end of last...