Tour de France Femmes: Marlen Reusser and Lorena Wiebes drop out following crash on Stage 6

The fallout from Friday's huge crash at the Tour de France Femmes continues with Marlen Reusser joining Emma Norsgaard in abandoning the race. Over 50 riders were grounded in the collision which occurred with 42 kilometers remaining in Friday's sixth stage — the longest of this year's race — and 15 were treated for various injuries. Ad/> Chantal van den Broek-Blaak was bleeding profusely from a deep wound on her arm, but managed to continue after undergoing treatment.

/> Tour de France Femmes‘Absolutely brutal’ – Vos dropped early on Stage 7AN HOUR AGO Norsgaard was immediately hospitalised with head, cervical vertebrae and left shoulder injuries, and dropped out of the race. Reusser, who won Stage 4, had been hoping to continue but medical examination ruled her out. A concussion was revealed in the hospital examination, with doctors insisting that the 30-year-old Swiss rider drop out and rest in order to fully recover.

Rachele Barbieri also failed to start stage seven, after finishing fourth on the fifth stage earlier in the week. The cause of the crash remains uncertain, with some reports blaming an errant spectator while riders involved in the incident suggested a food bag or bidon may have been to blame. Van den Broek-Blaak tried to explain what had happened, saying «I just rode in over the girls and I think a few girls fell on top of me.