Oscar Pereiro, the Caisse d'Epargne rider who is the leader of his team for the first time in a Grand Tour, couldn't have had a worse start to his new role as captain of the Vuelta a España squad. He went down in the big pile-up in stage two and commented that it was "The classical fight amongst sprinters who think that the road is wider than it is in reality!" There was nothing he could do to avoid the crash. "Some riders crashed just in front of me and so close to the finish and at such a speed it is of course impossible to brake." He hopes his injuries are minor, though " my right hip is hurting a little, but I hope it is nothing serious," concluded Pereiro.
