SA rider flirts with disaster
2008-07-22 17:09
Jausiers, France - South Africa's John-Lee Augustyn flirted with disaster on the 16th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday after flying over the side of the steep descent of the Restefond climb.
Augustyn crossed the summit of the day's second unclassified climb on his own after attacking his leading group half a kilometre from the summit.
However moments later, after being rejoined by his group, he crashed over the side of the mountain after misjudging a right hand bend.
He slid down the gravelly mountain side and was eventually helped back up by an onlooker.
Augustyn appeared unhurt. One of his first complaints to a race official who was attending him appeared to be over the loss of his bike, which had slid further down the mountain side.
Augustyn, who rides for the Barloworld team, is racing his first Tour de France.
Two minutes later Cadel Evans, racing in the yellow jersey group of race leader Frank Schleck, just avoided crashing into the motorbike official attending to Augustyn.
- AFP