Lille, France: Defending champion Chris Froome suffered a scare in an early crash as Marcel Kittel continued his domination of the Tour de France on Tuesday.
Froome injured his wrist but is able to continue after an X-ray revealed he had no problems.
He hit the deck just a few kilometres into Tuesday’s 163.5km stage four from Le Touquet to Lille.
But Sky team manager Dave Brailsford said he was fine to continue for Wednesday’s cobbled stage from Ypres in Belgium to Arenberg, and that the X-ray was merely a precaution.
“We’ve done the tests and we’re relieved,” said Brailsford.
“He will start tomorrow and I hope it will be a great day.
“We took precautions, you’re always concerned when you see your leader on the ground but that’s part of sport.
“I think we’ve had quite a few crashes so it’s normal to be worried but we’re going on.
“Chris is a fighter, he’s not someone who gives up just like that.”
His Sky team were initially worried but after a trip back to the Tour medical car, Froome continued on the stage with a splint on his left wrist and strapping on his right hand and left thigh.
He was also sporting grazes to his elbow and his shorts had been shredded.
One of Froome’s main rivals for overall victory, Vincenzo Nibali, the current race leader, said he had spoken to the 29-year-old Kenyan-born Briton but didn’t know how bad his injuries were.
“We knew almost straightaway about his fall. When he got back to the group I went up to him and asked how he was; he wasn’t in great spirits,” said the Italian.
Confident over cobbles
Wednesday’s 155.5km stage that takes in nine cobbled sections totalling 15.4km that are usually reserved for the prestigious Paris-Roubaix one-day Classic, has been on riders’ minds for days.
Nibali said: “First of all you just have to try to get through the day. I’m hoping for good weather and no rain.
“We’ve already ridden the course, [teammate] Jakob Fuglsang will help me. These cobbles are new for me but I’m confident I’ll deal well with them, I’m a good bike handler so I’ll be OK.”
Kittel is not expecting to challenge for Wednesday’s stage but he believes his Giant-Shimano teammate John Degenkolb, who finished second at Paris-Roubaix back in April, has a good chance.
“There’s no question that with second from Paris-Roubaix this year in John we’ve got one of the favourites in our team,” he said.
On the flat sprint stages Kittel has no peers.
His victory in Tuesday’s fourth stage was his third already on this Tour.
Although Giant failed to control the run-in to the finish as they had done so expertly for his victories in England on Saturday and Monday, he still proved too strong for the rest.
Norwegian Alexander Kristoff had led the sprint until the final 50 metres but thumped his handlebars in frustration as Kittel pipped him to the line.
Young French sprint star Arnaud Demare finally managed to get his kick for the line working as he came third, with green jersey wearer Peter Sagan fourth.
Even out-of-sorts German sprinter Andre Greipel managed to finish sixth in an incredibly close finish.
“Today was really, really hard, there was a constant high speed. It wasn’t easy to stay together as a team,” said Kittel.
“We had our plan but it didn’t really work so we had to improvise a bit.
“We just made it in time and I sat in Mark Renshaw’s wheel.
“It wasn’t easy to make my sprint because Kristoff had a gap. But I was asking myself if it was smart (of him) to start that early.”
With three wins already on this Tour and 17 stages to come, Kittel is well placed to beat his four victories from 12 months ago.
“Before the race I said my goal was to win one stage,” said Kittel.
“I said last year it was unique to win four stages and wear the yellow jersey. Yet again it’s a little similar this year.
“It’s very unique and not something you can expect every time. I’m very happy it’s working so well.”
