VALKENBURG, Netherlands (AP) _ The already depleted Tour de France cyling event lost another of its favourites Tuesday when Alejandro Valverde was involved in a crash during the third stage.
The Spaniard crashed in the middle of the main pack of riders, causing a small pile-up.
He received medical treatment from the Tour doctor before being placed on a gurney. Valverde grimaced in pain and the Tour's website said he appeared to have injured his collarbone.
Valverde emerged as one of the new favourites after top contenders Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso and other riders were withdrawn before the race because of doping allegations.
Valverde also abandoned last year after winning a stage in the Alps.
An earlier crash in the third stage also took American Fred Rodriguez and Erik Dekker of the Netherlands out of the race.
The Tour's website said that Rodriquez, of the Davitamon-Lotto team, injured his shoulder and that Rabobank racer Dekker appeared to have hurt his collarbone. They also were taken away in an ambulance, the website said.
