Two riders had to abandon during stage 9 after crashing: Gonzalez de Galdeano and Jose Angel Gomez Marchante. The former was taken out when Bernhard Eisel (FDJ) hit the deck after four kilometres, with Galdeano's teammate Alberto Contador also coming down. The crash happened at 50 km/h and Galdeano landed on his back. He tried to continue, but the pain forced him to stop after only a few kilometres.
Igor was taken to hospital in Remiremont where he underwent X-ray and ultrasound scans, the results of which were negative for broken bones or injuries to his internal organs. But a big bruise on his back prevented him from walking, and he will travel by car to Grenoble tomorrow before returning home to Vitoria.
"I feel very bad, not only because of the bruise on the back, but because of the bad luck that I have had," said Gonzalez de Galdeano. "In the last two years, I have not managed to reach my level, and already I don't know what to do. I was very disillusioned by this Tour because I started very well. The first day I did a good time trial and I was thinking that finally I coming back, but two days ago I had troubles with my right knee and that caused me to lose time yesterday. I was waiting to be able to recover, but I haven't had time, because I crashed at the beginning the stage. The only thing that I still have is patience and trust that some day this bad luck will end."
Contador's injuries were not as serious: contusions and abrasions to both elbows and his left shoulder, as well as a bruise on his left thigh.
Jose Angel Gomez Marchante became Saunier Duval's second abandonment when he crashed in the feed zone after 88 km and broke his collarbone. He was taken to hospital in Mulhouse but should be able to fly back home tonight. Gomez Marchante was in his first Tour and was one of the team's biggest hopes in the mountains.
