They had just passed the 60km to go sign in the third stage of the Tour de France when a simple touch of wheels between two riders who rode in the front of the group caused a big crash. More than twenty riders were on the ground, including Rui Costa and Filippo Pozzato.

The rider from Vicenza was immediately back on his bike without physical consequences, while the Portuguese champion waited a few moments before taking his bike. Meanwhile, the race underwent a neutralization that allowed the riders to rejoin the peloton: Rui Costa rode with conviction and, escorted by Pozzato, he got back to his teammates.

With 38km to go, a new situation was created when echelons split the peloton, leaving 60 rider in the front group. Costa and his teammates had missed the split and had to chase to bring things back together.

However, the run-in to the Mur de Huy, Costa was not at his best. He crossed the line in 38th, 1.13 behind Joaquim Rodriguez

" I was riding in the first positions, was well placed and had some teammates with me when the crash suddenly occurred. There was no way to avoid it," explained Rui Costa. "It was at high speed, we were riding 85 km / h, a huge risk. I feared that it was very bad. I feel pain in my left leg. However, I have not sustained any fractures, only bruises.

"These two stages were dangerous and they left me with a big deficit. I'm sorry, but the Tour is certainly not over, I am used to fighting."

Pozzato suffered a knee contusion.

Rui Costa is 30th in GC, 3.10 behind Chris Froome