Following on from his win on yesterday’s opening stage of the Tour du Poitou-Charentes, there was bad luck for French sprinter Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) as he was caught up in a massive crash inside the closing hundred metres of today’s second stage.
Tom Van Asbroeck (Team LottoNL-Jumbo) proved fastest on the Avenue de la Venise Verte at the end of the 179.8-kilometre stage from La Rochelle to Niort. The Belgian rider finished ahead of the Italian duo Manuel Belletti (Wilier-Southeast) and Marco Benfatto (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec).
The crash in the finishing straight took down at least a dozen riders, with Yauheni Hutarovich (Fortuneo – Vital Concept) emerging worst. The Belarussian rider was later diagnosed with a broken collarbone.
Van Asbroeck has now taken over the race lead from Bouhanni. The two riders are on the same time, but thanks to Van Asbroeck’s sixth place on the opening stage, he has been awarded the leader’s jersey.
ralenti chute #TPC2016 #niort @F3PoitouChtes @H_Lemonier pic.twitter.com/bXcVgV11RO
— Antoine Morel (@F3AntoineMorel) August 24, 2016
Afterwards, Bouhanni’s team-mate Christophe Laporte was involved in an altercation with another rider. It’s not known as to whether there will be any repercussions for Laporte but according to France Bleu Poitou, he will avoid both disqualification and a fine.
Bouhanni in a fight again! (younger brother)
(via @GazetteDesSports)pic.twitter.com/g1jjFGWQ49— CyclingHub (@CyclingHubTV) August 24, 2016
that’s not Laporte fighting. Laporte steps between to stop them.
menudo GILIPOLLAS @BouhanniNacer , deberían retirarte licencia