Rasmussen gives jersey away

2007-07-16 22:23

Tignes, France - Denmark's Michael Rasmussen said on Monday he will give his first yellow jersey to stricken Rabobank teammate Kai Reus, who is currently in a coma following a training ride crash in the Alps.

Reus was training alone when he crashed on one of the many Cols surrounding Tignes last week.

The 22-year-old, one of the Netherlands' up and coming cycling talents, had gone over a barrier into a ditch and was only saved when a passer-by took his mobile phone and called an ambulance.

He was taken to hospital, where he underwent an operation for a brain haemorrage. Reus also suffered fractures to his collarbone and ribs.

In his impressive career so far Reus has twice won the Tour of Normandie, the 2005 edition of the tough one-dayer GP Cerami and the under-23 edition of the 2006 Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Rasmussen pulled on his first yellow jersey after Sunday's stage of the race, which he won over two minutes ahead of Spaniard Iban Mayo.

He leads German 24-year-old Linus Gerdemann of T-Mobile by 43sec going into Tuesday's ninth stage, the final day in the Alps.

- SAPA