Alejandro Valverde falls in awful crash and goes to hospital putting him out of the Tour de France

ALEJANDRO VALVERDE was involved in a heavy crash in stage one of the Tour de France as he lost control in the wet conditions.

The Spaniard’s front wheel slipped, causing him to fall before skidding across the road and into the metal barriers.

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The Movistar rider went to hospital after he crashed at 34mph on the 14km route.

Valverde was not only rider to fall in the wet conditions as Primoz Roglic, Rick Zabel and George Bennett also crashed.

Valverde abandoned the Tour alongside Ion Izagirre – Geraint Thomas won the first stage.

Stefan Kung finished five seconds behind the Welshman, while Vasil Kiryienka and Tony Martin were second and third respectively.

Thomas’ team-mate Chris Froome finished in sixth place behind Matteo Trentin.

Fellow Brit, Simon Yates finished 25 seconds behind Froome in Dusseldorf.

AP:Associated Press

Valverde’s and his team-mate Nairo Quintana were huge favourites ahead of the prestigious tour but the latter will have to compete without his team-mate.

The Colombian has previously finished second in the Tour de France twice, in 2013 and 2015.

Quintana finished in 53rd place in Stage One today.

AP:Associated Press

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