The Belking Pro Cycling Team emerged from the first stage in the Tour de France relativelyunscathed. The finale of the 213 kilometre long race from Porto-Vecchio to Bastia was tarnished by a crash. Despite the fact that leader Bauke Mollema ended up on the pavement, he is unharmed. 

“Happily, I don’t have too many bruises from the fall – just a few scratches. When I saw them go down in front of me, I knew that I could not stop in time so I tried to jump the curb. That did not go exactly as planned as I ended up taking one Lampre rider out. My bike was trashed. I finished out the stage on Bram Tankink’s bike and apart from some abrasions, I am fine.”

 “It was pure chaos in the finale,” said Bram Tankink. “Since the bus was going to force the finish three kilometres ahead, everybody went into panic mode. There was a lot of uncertainty which was also the cause of the crash. Luckily, I could stop in time but Bauke couldn’t so I gave him my bike. Happily, everyone will get the same time. That’s the only amicable solution.”