HAMMOND CRASHES BADLY IN PARIS-ROUBAIX
- Sunday, 13 April 2008
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Roger Hammond's hopes of success in Paris-Roubaix ended in pain as the High road rider was forced to ride the last 60 kilometres of the race with a badly injured right hand after a major crash
Bouygues Telecom rider Rony Martias crashed in front of Hammond, leaving him with no option but to go into him, and fall himself.
Riding with a suspected broken finger, Hammond still finished 23rd, but he was seething about an accident he felt had happened almost needlessly.
“There was no way round him, I went down and I ended up chasing one group after another.”
He was severely critical of Martias, saying that the Frenchman had often caused crashes in the past because of poor bike handling skills.
“I’m very disappointed because the form was there.” Hammond had made it in to the front group when the race split through the crucial Forest of Arenberg section of pavé.
Great Britain’s Jeremy Hunt (Credit Agricole) abandoned 30 kilometres from the finish, still suffering from a stomach virus. The third GB rider taking part, Ian Stannard (Landbouwkrediet), managed to complete his first ever Paris-Roubaix in 88th place.
“I was going pretty well early on, then had a double puncture and ended up chasing for the rest of the race. But I’m glad I’ve finished. I've now finished Paris-Roubaix as well as Flanders and Ghent-Wevelgem,” the young Brit said.
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