Van de Walle first to abandon Tour de France

Jurgen Van de Walle (Omega Pharma-Lotto) gest a push after a wheel change.

Jurgen Van de Walle (Omega Pharma-Lotto) gest a push after a wheel change. (Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)

The Omega Pharma-Lotto team of stage 1 winner Philippe Gilbert is down one man as Jurgen Van de Walle became the first rider to abandon the 2011 Tour de France.