Cycling: Battered Kiwi to continue Tour

New Zealand cyclist Julian Dean. Photo / Getty Images

A battered and bruised Julian Dean will get back on his bike for tomorrow morning's third stage of the Tour de France, his Garmin-Transitions team said.

The New Zealand rider was among three Garmin team riders, including Americans Tyler Farrar and Christian Vande Velde who were taken to hospital for checks after a crash-marred second stage this morning.

Dozens of riders fell on the slippery descents during the 201km stage from Brussels to Spa.

Garmin's sporting director Matt White told AFP that Vande Velde's tour was over after the team's leader broke two ribs. Vande Velde finished fourth in 2008 and eighth in 2009.

However Dean and Farrar, who suffered heavy bruising, should be fit to start tomorrow, he added.

Dean completed the stage in 170th position, 13 minutes, 38 seconds off the pace, and sits 175th overall.

"I've never seen so many guys come down in such a short period of time, I think half the bunch could have crashed today," White told the Cycling News website.

Dean was the first Garmin rider to go down before a large proportion of the field crashed on the descent of the Stockeu, including Vande Velde and Farrar. Two other Garmin riders, Robbie Hunter and David Millar, also fell during the stage to leave the team in disarray.

After the descent, the yellow jersey group led by Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) sat up and waited for the majority of the field to regroup.

The peloton then rode to the finish without contesting the sprint as Quick Step's Sylvain Chavanel claimed the stage win.

White, who dictates the Garmin-Transitions tactics from the team car, wasn't aware of where the go-slow orders came from.

"I have no idea. It was obviously something they were talking about in the bunch. We could tell they weren't racing but we had five guys who crashed. Christian, Tyler, Julian, Robbie and David. It was pandemonium and crash upon crash. It hasn't been a good day."

Spilled oil from a motorbike which crashed ahead of the peloton is being blamed for the high number of accidents with seven-time winner Lance Armstrong, reigning champion Alberto Contador and last year's runner-up Andy Schleck all escaping unhurt despite hitting the tarmac, AFP reported.

Numerous spills also marred the first stage on Sunday but riders are facing more carnage in the third stage which feature seven treacherous cobblestone sectors.

- NZPA