Bad Driver of the Day: A French television car knocks down Tour de France cyclists Juan Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland while swerving to avoid a tree.
Flecha and Hoogerland were leading the front group in the final stretch of Tour’s ninth stage, when Flecha was struck by the vehicle, which sent him crashing into Hoogerland. Both sustained injuries, but got up and rejoined the race a short time later. The car and driver were banned from the Tour.
Despite the setback, Hoogerland still managed to reclaim his King of the Mountains crown.
This was the most insane, horrific stage ever. Between this and the ditch wipe-out, I spent most of the stage with my eyes covered, peering between my fingers in anxiety.
