Evans recovers after crash on Tour's ninth stage

BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France (AFP) — Australia's yellow jersey favourite Cadel Evans skirted with disaster on Sunday after crashing during the Tour de Frace ninth stage.

The 31-year-old did not appear seriously hurt and got back on a new bike to continue the race after crashing and apparently picking up grazes to his left elbow and his thigh.

The back of Evans's shirt was also sliced open following the crash, which occurred on a bend as he was at the front of the peloton which was being led by the orange-clad Euskaltel team on a relatively flat section.

It is the first major incident of this year's race for Evans, who finished runner-up last year to absent Spaniard Alberto Contador.

His Silence-Lotto team director, Hendrik Redant, told France 2 television he was unaware of the details of the crash and would only know ...