Barloworld’s Colombian climber Juan Mauricio Soler crashed hard on Stage One with 10km and landed on his left wrist, the same wrist he broke on Stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia. Best Climber in the 2007 Tour, Soler rode in at 3’04” to finish 170th on the stage.

After X-rays in Vannes hospital after Stage One, Soler was diagnosed with a suspected fracture of his left scaphoid, as well as bruises and cuts on his right hand, but was able to start Stage 2 on Sunday. Barloworld’s team manager Claudio Corti told Road Bike Action “it is a suspected fracture of the scaphoid because there was no break evident on the X-rays, but all the symptoms are there. We’ll have to see how he can use his hand while braking today.”

Soler really suffered on Sunday’s speedy stage, as he was dropped when the peloton accelerated with 30km to go and finished 179th and last on Stage 2, 7’18” behind stage winner Hushovd.