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Julian Dean (Garmin-Slipstream) hangs out with his son before the start of the stage.

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Kiwi sprinter underwent surgery to remove pellet

Garmin-Slipstream sprinter Julian Dean had to undergo surgery to remove a pellet from his finger, the team revealed this week. The New Zealander was injured in the finger after an unknown assailant fired an air rifle into the Tour de France peloton last month. Rabobank's Oscar Freire was also wounded in the incident.

Dean finished the Tour after being hit by the pellet gun during stage 13, but after returning home to Spain the finger became infected. X-rays revealed the pellet had remained in his finger.

"Due to the intricate anatomy, a specialized hand and trauma surgeon removed the foreign body. Julian is now back at home and recovering with his pellet souvenir from the Tour de France," said team doctor Shannon Sovndal.

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