Bauke Mollema crashes out of Tour de France
Dutchman abandons race after crash midway through stage 13 Friday.
Trek-Segafredo co-captain Bauke Mollema has abandoned the Tour de France.
The Dutchman was brought down in a crash also involving GC contenders Nairo Quintana (Arkea- Samsic) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) midway through stage 13 Friday. Mollema’s team has yet to confirm the extent of his injuries.
Quintana and Bardet were able to ride on, though the Frenchman had a swathe of road rash down one side and was looking unsteady on his feet after striking his head.
Mollema, 33, had gone into the stage just off the pace of a tightly-packed group of 11 riders battling at the top of GC. Sitting in 13th overall, Mollema was 2:31 down on race leader Primož Roglič, with his Trek-Segafredo teammate Richie Porte in 11th overall at 1:53.
Friday’s stage into Puy Mary was set to see fireworks and a shake-up of the GC rankings. The tough roads of the Massif Central have unfortunately already narrowed down the GC field.
#TDF2020
Unfortunately, @BaukeMollema was caught up in the last crash. He has abandoned and we will report the extent of his injuries when we know more.— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) September 11, 2020