Boardman released from hospital

British cyclist has no memory of crash on Monday

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Posted: Tuesday July 14, 1998 11:19 AM

Boardman was the overall leader of the Tour de France before the crash put him out of the race (AP)

CORK, Ireland (AP) -- Chris Boardman was released from Cork's University Hospital on Tuesday, one day after suffering a concussion and other injuries in a crash during the Tour de France.

The 29-year-old British cyclist held the leader's yellow jersey after the first two days of the tour, which started Saturday in Dublin.

But the 1992 Olympic pursuit champion crashed out during the 127.7-mile second stage from Enniscorthy to Cork.

Boardman clipped wheels with another rider and crashed heavily into a stone wall near Youghal, 30 miles (48 kms) from Cork.

He was knocked unconscious and rushed to Cork's University Hospital, where he was treated overnight for a concussion, bruising and cuts. Doctors originally reported he had a broken wrist but later said there were no broken bones.

Boardman, who has crashed out of three of the last four Tours de France, could not remember a thing about the crash but said he was lucky he was wearing a helmet.

"It's a shame to go out of the tour like that, but it's a matter of getting on with things now," he said. "I haven't got a clue what happened. I remember riding cross winds, and the next thing I remember is waking up and looking at the ceiling of the ambulance."

Boardman said he had no objections to helmets being made compulsory equipment on the Tour.

"If I was unconscious with a helmet, then I don't like to think what would have happened if I had not been wearing one," he said. "Yesterday was a real lesson for me."

Hospital consultant Stephen Cusack said Boardman had some "nasty" abrasions but it appeared the safety equipment he was wearing took the brunt of the impact.

It is the fourth time in the last five years he has been forced to abandon the Tour de France.

In 1994 he quit his first Tour with fatigue after a week of aching. In 1995 he crashed in the opening time trial stage in Brittany and smashed an ankle bone.

He finished the Tour in 1996 but crashed on a mountain descent last year, injuring his back and forcing him to retire at a later stage.  

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