Arvesen out of Tour de France with fractured collarbone

Kurt-Asle Arvesen, stage winner

Kurt Asle Arvesen has pulled out of the 2009 Tour de France after he fractured his collarbone during stage 10 on Tuesday.

The Norwegian national champion fell awkwardly with Garmin's Danny Pate on a seemingly innocuous stretch of road. He quickly remounted his bike and carried on, but was obviously in pain.

Throughout the stage, the Saxo Bank rider received attention from the race doctor, but managed to complete the day's race despite his injuries.

After a more thorough inspection in a hospital in Chateauroux on Tuesday evening, it was discovered that Arvesen had fractured his left collarbone quite seriously - bad enough to require surgery.

"I'm extremely disappointed," said Arvesen.

"It has been my main objective of the year and I have been riding hard to get ready for it. I had no chances of avoiding the crash and it is a very sad situation for me to see everything disappear.

"Naturally I wish the remaining eight [Saxo Bank] riders good luck with the rest of the race."

Arvesen will return to his native Norway where he will undergo a surgical procedure to correct the fracture.

Arvesen won stage 11 of last year's Tour de France, and was hoping for a repeat win this year.

TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS

Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.

STAGE REPORTS

Stage 10: Cavendish spoils Bastille Day party to take third stage win

Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefire

stage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out

Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance

Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs

Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage

Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second

Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage

Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador

Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint

Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial

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TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS

Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson

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Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

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Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

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TOUR GUIDE

Tour de France 2009 - the hub

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Tour de France 2009: Team guide

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.