Riders tumble behind Napolitano on stage four (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Bouygues Telecom's veteran rider Laurent Brochard was the victim of the massive crash which blighted the Tour of Poland on Wednesday. The fall caused a broken clavicle which will end the 39 year-old's season, according to his team.
The crash happened in the final metres of stage four when T-Mobile's Gerald Ciolek reportedly ran into a spectators outstretched arm as he tried to pass Lampre's Danilo Napolitano in the sprint for the line. Ciolek crashed heavily into the barriers while the peloton was charging at full speed, sending dozens of riders to the ground.
Brochard's contract with Bouygues Telecom ends this year, and there is no word on whether the rider, whose career has spanned 15 years, will continue racing in 2008. Brochard, the last French World Champion, won his title in 1997 in San Sebastian, and has tallied up 41 victories as a professional.
