BMC may be about to lose one of their key support riders as Marcus Burghardt's further participation is in doubt. The German went down in a crash in today's stage and team doctor Max Testa says that there is a 50% possibility that he will start tomorrow's stage.

Marcus Burghardt crashed and injured his right shoulder Thursday on another rainy stage of the Tour de France, with BMC Racing Team Chief Medical Officer Dr. Max Testa putting his probability to start Friday's stage at "50-50." Burghardt was one of several riders who went down with about 80 kilometers to go in the 194-km race.

"It was slippery and one guy was braking and then there were guys crashing in front of me," Burghardt said. "I had a hard impact on the tarmac with my shoulder and felt directly that something was not right."

The 2008 Tour de France stage winner soldiered on – and even helped team leader Tejay van Garderen stay out of the wind – before finishing the stage 6:20 behind winner André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol). An X-ray taken at the finish revealed no fractures.

"Marcus has an AC (acromioclavicular) joint separation," Dr. Testa said. "We put some ice on him and will rest him and see tomorrow morning how he feels. Right now, it is a 50-50 possibility he can take the start."

Three other riders who were also involved in crashes did not finish as Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team) kept the overall lead. BMC Racing Team Sport Director Yvon Ledanois said the team did a good job of protecting van Garderen when strong crosswinds split the peloton with 10 km to go.

"With the wind, there was a lot of tension and nervousness in the race," he said. "The guys did a good job with Tejay. I hope Marcus can continue because he did a good job before the crash and he is one important guy for the team."

Van Garderen remains the BMC Racing Team's best-placed rider overall in 11th, 2:11 off the lead.