Kiwi cyclist Patrick Bevin was lucky to escape seemingly unscathed from a dramatic crash in the opening stage of the Tour de France.
In his debut Tour de France, one of four cyclists of the Kiwi contingent in the event slid off in slippery conditions before sliding into the side corden. Bevin then hits his head violently on the metal barriers.
Appearing to suffer a leg injury, a member of the support staff then picked him a new bike from the back of the support car to which Bevin proceeded to mount and continue en-route to the loud applause of the crowd, finishing the stage in 180th place.
Meanwhile, Kiwi rider Jack Bauer kicked off his Tour de France campaign with a 56th-placed finish in the first stage in Dusseldorf.
Bauer, riding for the Quick-Step Floors team, was 49 seconds off British stage leader Thomas Geraint and the best of the Kiwi pack.
Recent Tour of California winner George Bennett came in 162nd, while Dion Smith finished just ahead of Bevin in 178th.
Newshub.
