Greipel cops an unlucky blow

By Greg Johnson in Adelaide, Australia

Reigning Tour Down Under champion André Greipel (Team Columbia) will return to Germany tomorrow morning after crashing out of this year's event on Stage three. Greipel was one of several riders to collide with a parked police motorbike after being hammered by a gust of wind on today's stage.

"There was a cross wind, normally the riders show that there is something on the street but no one showed it and there was a motorbike," he said. "I think I'm out for three weeks, but yeah, I'll be back next year."

Greipel was treated for a dislocated shoulder and stitches to wounds on his leg and arm as a result of the collision. He will travel to Team Columbia's medical centre in Hamburg once arriving in Germany to undergo an operation on his shoulder.

"No, it was not the wind," he added. "The motorbike was just on the street and we were riding along the left side, then, yeah, there was a motorbike.

Find out who else was involved in the crash and is out of the race.