Tour de France: Race organisers are under fire for tight street circuits after Caleb Ewan and Jack Haig crashed out of the race

Tour de France organisers are under fire for the set-up of this year’s race after major crashes caused devastation for Aussie riders.

Caleb Ewan reacts after falling close to the finish line of the third stage of the Tour de France. Picture: Christophe Ena / AFP

The first bone Caleb Ewan has ever broken has forced the Aussie cycling star out of the Tour de France after another day of carnage which also claimed countryman Jack Haig who could now miss the Tokyo Olympics.

Several team bosses railed against the tight turning and narrow roads at the finish of the third stage which caused Ewan’s crash when the 26-year-old Sydneysider caught the wheel of stage-winner Tim Merlier and crashed into Peter Sagan in the final 200 metres of the stage.

The pair hit the ground at over 60kph and were among a select group of around 20 riders who contested the final sprint after a crash with around 3.5km to go had already eliminated a large portion of the field.

“I don‘t remember too much, it all happened very quickly,” Ewan told his Lotto Soudal team after the race.

“I came next to Peter (Sagan) and we were quite close together on the wheel and then, when (Tim) Merlier went again to the right I just touched the wheel and went down.

“It all happened quite quickly.”

Caleb Ewan is evacuated in an ambulance after his crash (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / POOL / AFP)

Ewan was taken away in an ambulance and sent for scans which confirmed he had broken his collarbone in four places and would need surgery, ending his Tour campaign.

“Usually when you crash at first you don‘t feel much … but straight away I felt a lot of pain. I thought it wasn’t good,” he said.

“It‘s the first bone I’ve ever broken … it’s broken in four spots and I have to get surgery on it to get it back in place.

“Out of any bone to be broken, it’s one of the easiest ones to come back recovery-wise.”

"Hopefully La Vuelta can still be a goal of mine this year", says @CalebEwan after his collarbone fracture in #TDF2021 - operation to follow on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/T2tV7AQ7Fv

— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) June 28, 2021

Ewan came in to the race having won two stages at the Giro d‘Italia and was odds-on to add to his five career stage wins at the Tour.

“This is part of cycling, unfortunately. I just have to let it heal,” Ewan said.

“When I can train again I’ll start training.”

“I already think six-and-a-half to seven weeks until the Vuelta … so hopefully that can be a goal of mine this year.”

The horror days earned a rebuke from the CPA, the professional cyclists union, who wrote in a tweet that it was in “direct conversation with riders” and that its priority is rider safety after a ”crash-marred race”.

“The events of today are not incidents. There is something wrong with the choice of parcours [route] and signing it off”.

Whilst we want to acknowledge Tim #Merlier’s win in this crash-marred race, our priority is - as it always is - rider #safety. We are currently in direct conversation with riders. We will keep you updated via our website and social channels. #TDF2021#CPA#WeAreTheRiderspic.twitter.com/3kaAEB66NE

— CPA Cycling (@cpacycling) June 28, 2021

Haig, one of 10 Australian riders in this year’s Tour, was taken out in a crash on a left-hand curve with four kilometres left in the 182.9-km stage from Lorient.

Having finished fourth and 10th in the opening two stages, Haig was also taken to hospital and suffered similar injuries to Ewan and had to abandon his race.

His place in the Australian cycling team for the Tokyo Games could also be in jeopardy.

“Jack suffered a fractured left collarbone and concussion following the crash. He is conscious and okay and scans showed no head trauma, “ his Bahrain Victorious team doctor Piotr Kosielski said.

“He will remain in hospital overnight for observation following the team and UCI protocols.”