Matt White out of Tour hours before start.

16 H 03 - Matt White Was Supposed To Start At 5.17pm
Matt White who fractured his collarbone in an accident only a few hours
before the start of his first Tour de France. The Australian rider seems
cursed with bad luck. In 1999 he was due to make his Tour debut but his Vini
Caldirola team's invitation was withdrawn at the last minute. Since then he
has raced with the US Postal team for the past three years but never made
the Tour team.
Another interesting fact: Matt White's wife, Jane Saville, was disqualified
from the long distance walking event at the Sydney Olympics with just 300
meters to go because she was deemed to have broken from the correct walking
position. She was in the lead of the race and seemed assured of winning the
gold medal.

16 H 00 - O'Grady Comments On White's Accident
"I can't believe what happened," said his team-mate Stuart O'Grady who was
riding next to him at the time of the accident. "It was a freak accident.
'Whitey' was near the site of the time trial start and hit something. He
went flying over the bars and landed smack on his face. The poor guy!
"For a while we were hoping that it was just a cut to the face and that he
could still take the start. He was in the form of his life and really ready
to have a good race. For this to happen only a few hours before the start is
terrible!

Originally posted by Marty Wallace At 5.17pm Matt White who fractured
his collarbone in an accident only a few hours before the start of his
first Tour de France.

Yeah, just read it on cyclingnews... bigtime suckage!!

Aussies and their weak collarbones.. I dunno.. poor guy

hippy



--

Geez ... is this guy ever supposed to ride the great race? What a tragedy
only hours before the start.

At least Cofidis were able to replace the him with a rider to help O'Grady
in the sprints and the race ...

This is not the only 'accident' that has happened before a tour start.
Fredo Moncassin (former teammate of O'Grady and Vogels at Gan) bizarrely
broke his wrist coming down off a platform in one of the tours in the 1990s
(93?) when being presented to the public ... Bob Roll suffered a concussion
in the 1988 tour in the 'preface' and was replaced also last minute (by
current Marco Polo rider and directeur, NZ Nathan Dahlberg).

At the other end of the tour, a rider fell in the Champs Elysees stage in
the 1970s (77 - Jos Bruyere?) and he failed finish after riding the race for
20+ days ... and remember abdoujaparov in tour 1991 - he had to force
himself to walk the final 200m so he could claim the green jersey after that
massive crash ...

Some useless tour information for you!



"Marty Wallace" wrote in message
om.au...
16 H 03 - Matt White Was Supposed To Start At 5.17pm
Matt White who fractured his collarbone in an accident only a few hours
before the start of his first Tour de France. The Australian rider seems
cursed with bad luck. In 1999 he was due to make his Tour debut but his
Vini
Caldirola team's invitation was withdrawn at the last minute. Since then
he
has raced with the US Postal team for the past three years but never made
the Tour team.
Another interesting fact: Matt White's wife, Jane Saville, was
disqualified
from the long distance walking event at the Sydney Olympics with just 300
meters to go because she was deemed to have broken from the correct
walking
position. She was in the lead of the race and seemed assured of winning
the
gold medal.

16 H 00 - O'Grady Comments On White's Accident
"I can't believe what happened," said his team-mate Stuart O'Grady who was
riding next to him at the time of the accident. "It was a freak accident.
'Whitey' was near the site of the time trial start and hit something. He
went flying over the bars and landed smack on his face. The poor guy!
"For a while we were hoping that it was just a cut to the face and that he
could still take the start. He was in the form of his life and really
ready
to have a good race. For this to happen only a few hours before the start
is
terrible!

"hippy" wrote in message
.. .
Originally posted by Marty Wallace At 5.17pm Matt White who fractured
his collarbone in an accident only a few hours before the start of his
first Tour de France.

Yeah, just read it on cyclingnews... bigtime suckage!!

Aussies and their weak collarbones.. I dunno.. poor guy

hippy



--


17 H 55 - Farazijn Next To Start...
After being told he was going to ride the Tour only a few hours ago, Peter
Farazijn is ready to start. (In case you've missed the numerous mentions, he
is Matt White's replacement at the Cofidis team.)

18 H 01 - Farazijn Last At 3.1km Mark
Peter Farazijn didn't even have time to warm up for today's time trial. The
Belgian Cofidis rider is currently the slowest rider on course. He is 29"
behind the leader at the intermediate check, Vicioso.

Can you imagine the scene at Farazijins place?

Big party with all his mates to watch the Tour on the wide screen TV,
halfway through a block of cold ones the phone rings.

"Maaaate...

Michael Rogers put a pedal down on one of the tricky corners and went
arse up, as well. Got back on to finish, 'tho.

A little bit of rain, and all the Aussies start dropping. Must be
because of the drought back home . . .

Touch of performance anxiety, perhaps?



--