France News

French police investigate shootings at Tour de France riders

Wednesday, 02 September 2009

French police investigate shootings at Tour de France riders

French police are launching an investigation into an attack on riders in the Tour de France in which Spanish cyclists Oscar Freire and New Zealand's Julian Dean were both hit by pellets from an airgun during Friday's 13th stage of the race.

Freire, who rides for Rabobank, needed to have a pellet removed from his leg whilst Dean was shot in a finger. Fortunately, both the cyclists only had minor injuries.

A Rabobank team spokesman explained that Freire and heard three shots and felt the sting of the pellet hitting him.

French police have asked Dean, who rides for Garmin-Slipstream, to give his own account of what happened in the incident.

Both cyclists are expected to be carrying on with the race despite their minor injuries when the Tour de France continues of Saturday.

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