johnny hoogerland crash foto

Controversial debates sparked at Tour de France due to a collision between a France 2 vehicle and cyclists.

Johnny Hoogerland was involved in a hard fall during a dramatic ninth stage of Tour de France. The rider from Vacansoleil team crashed after one of the France 2 television cars tried to avoid a tree and hit first Juan Antonio Flecha from team Sky. Hoogerland was then spectacularly thrown over a barbed-wire fence

However following the incident Hoogerland and Flecha could continue their ride. Hoogerland was injured with deep-cut wounds but he managed to reach the finish streak in Saint-Flour on time. Upon arrival Hoogerland was waited by his father. Shortly after, the biker showed up in tears on the podium to pick up his mountain/climbers jersey.

He was part of the group who was fighting for the stage victory but following his unfortunate accident he dropped back into the main peloton. Also Flecha was affected and lost precious time.
The three remaining escaped cyclists – Thomas Voeckler, Sandy Casar and Luis Leon Sanchez – fought further for the stage victory. Sanchez (Rabobank) claimed the 208-km 9th stage and Voeckler (Europcar) arrived second with a 5 second delay.
Even a larger incident occured earlier in the 9th stage. During the descent of Col du Pas de Peyrol, leading riders Alexandre Vinokourov and Jurgen van den Broeck fell and had to abandon the race.