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Velits out of Dauphine with broken collarbone

By Susan Westemeyer

published 9 June 2010

HTC-Columbia rider likely to miss Tour de France as well

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Czech champion Martin Mares (PSK Whirlpool-Author) with Peter Velits (HTC Columbia)(Image credit: Patrik Pátek)

Stage winner Grega Bole (Lampre-Farnese Vini) and Peter Velits (Team HTC - Columbia) make contact.(Image credit: Sirotti)

Slovenia's Grega Bole (Lampre-Farnese Vini) outsprinted Peter Velits (Team HTC - Columbia) and Geraint Thomas (Sky) to win the Dauphiné's first stage.(Image credit: Sirotti)

Peter Velits of HTC-Columbia has crashed out of the Critérium du Dauphiné, jeopardising his chances for this year's Tour de France. .

Peter Velits: the modest champion

Velits brothers ready to step up at HTC-Columbia

Broken arm and wrist for Peter Velits

25 year-old Velits finished second in the race's first stage but crashed at high-speed during the sprint finish of Tuesday's second stage to Bourg-Saint-Andeol. He crossed the finish line before heading off to hospital for x-rays, which confirmed the fracture. It is not yet known if he will need surgery.

Earlier this week HTC-Columbia issued its long list of riders for this year's Tour de France, including Velits. However he probably now has little chance of recovering in time to be at the start of the Tour in Rotterdam on July 3.

"At the end of May, he fell in the Tour of Bavaria and broke a little bone in his wrist, enough to cause him to withdraw," HTC-Columbia directeur sportif Alan Peiper told AFP."Even if he was fit again for the start of the Tour, he would be lacking in race practice."

Velits was U-23 World road champion in 2007. He and twin brother Martin rode for Team Milram from 2008 and 2009 before joining HTC-Columbia this year.