Lancaster recovering after tough day

By John Trevorrow in London, England

Australia's Brent Lancaster is looking forward to getting some rest overnight, having endured a rough 24 hours since the Tour de France-opening London Prologue. The Team Milram lead-out man battled with illness prior to Stage 1 only to be brought down in another rider's crash during the day's stage."An Agritubel guy hit one of the traffic islands about 50 kilometres to go and the next thing I know, I'm flying through the air," recalled Lancaster. "The main thing was to turn in the air so I didn't land on my bad collar-bone. I managed to save the shoulder but I've got a real sore back though."

The accident only compounded the Tour debutante's problems, having suffered from a lack of sleep and inability to eat the previous night. "I was throwing up and only got about two hours sleep. I couldn't keep anything down this morning either, so I rode the stage on nothing and I can tell you I am pretty knackered," he explained. "Not the way I wanted to start my first Tour de France. It can only get better!"