Peloton retaliates after Bradley Wiggins hit by flare in stage 12
Bradley Wiggins said he had suffered a slight burn to his arm after being hit with a flare near the end of stage 12
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ANNONAY, France (AFP) — Tour de France leader Bradley Wiggins said he had suffered a slight burn to one arm after being hit with a flare near the end of the race’s 12th stage Friday.
Team Sky leader Wiggins finished the stage nearly eight minutes behind stage winner and fellow Briton David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) to retain his 2:05 lead over fellow Englishman and teammate Chris Froome.
Wiggins later quipped that the flare-throwers, who had been running alongside the peloton as they raced to the finish, might have come off worse than he did after riders retaliated by throwing water bottles.
“I’m covered in all this yellow stuff,” said Wiggins, referring to the powder that comes off flares.
“I got hit in the arm with a flare, burnt my arm a bit, but it’s all right. It’s pretty dangerous, and I’m sure them guys are nursing a few wounds tonight because there were quite a few bottles in their direction.”