The day was already dark for French cyclists.
It ends in an even more nightmarish way.
Victim of a fall Friday during the 13th stage between Châtel-Guyon and Puy Mary, Romain Bardet had to resolve to abandon the Tour de France for the first time in his career, we learned from his AG2R team La Mondiale.
The cyclist suffers from a concussion.
While he occupied fourth place this morning just 30 seconds from the yellow Primoz Roglic jersey, the Auvergne rider, who hoped to make a big blow on his land, was thrown to the ground 90 km from the finish, in a downhill curve.
"I was cursed today"
“It couldn't have gone worse today, I fell to 65 km / h,” he explained at the finish.
“I stumbled and hit my head.
I struggled to find my senses instantly.
I have severe pain in my right leg.
I lost all my feelings in my fall, I was cursed today.
"
Romain Bardet took exams at Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital after the finish of the race.
“The medical exams confirmed what I was feeling and I am not able to continue the race,” he said.