Australian cyclist Nicole Frain was thrown flying from her bike when Stage 2 of the Tour de France Femmes was marred by a series of big crashes—but she failed to draw sympathy from many spectators.
A crash had already slowed the peloton during the second half of Monday's ride to Provins when Parkhotel Valkenburg rider Frain made her approach. Attempting to make up time following a previous crash earlier in the race, Frain failed to slow as she entered the mass of bikes and bodies.
The 29-year-old was travelling at high speed when she clipped the almost static Cavalli, hitting another floored cyclist before she was sent skidding for four or five metres across the tarmac. Frain said after the race she was unaware of the jam that had unfolded ahead of her, though many fans on social media were unwilling to accept that as an excuse.
The resulting concussion Cavalli suffered from their impact means the FDJ Suez Futuroscope star—who was expected to challenge for the yellow jersey—was forced to retire. The 24-year-old finished second at the Giro Donne in July and has been tipped for a huge future in cycling.
"After working hard to come back to the peloton in the convoy and with my teammate, the speed we rejoined the pack would have matched their pace," said Frain on social media after Monday's result. "Unfortunately as I came off the wheel I was unaware [of] riders on the road but I didn't have the opportunity to do the same given I didn't see it.
"This meant I crashed overtop [sic] of the rider on the ground and I did my best to avoid it but I had nowhere I could go." Frain went on to say this was "never the intention," adding she too was lucky she was able to get back on her bike.
Who will win the Tour de France Femmes now Marta Cavalli is out? Let us know in the comments section.
The same couldn't be said for Cavalli, but despite being able to temporarily ride on, the Italian has since been ruled out of the remainder of the Tour. Hours after the race, FDJ Suez Futuroscope published encouraging results from Cavalli's medical assessment.
“The first medical examination, carried out by the race staff, showed that Marta suffered a head and lower body trauma requiring her to go to the hospital for further examination,” the team said in a statement. “The findings were reassuring and have not indicated any further injuries or fractures. Marta remains under medical supervision.”
Team Jumbo-Visma's Marianne Vos went on to win Stage 2 and led Lorena Wiebes into Tuesday's portion of the race. Stephen Delcourt, team manager for FDJ Suez Futuroscope, expressed delight that Cavalli wasn't more seriously injured but said he had "no words" following the horrific crash.
