This was published 10 years ago
Cycling's blood, guts and glory
The glory of winning can sometimes come at a horrible price with serious injury and even death a real possibility for those who brave the wheel-to-wheel battles of the world’s most prestigious titles. (All images Getty)
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This
year's Tour Down Under is no exception with a giant crash creating chaos during
the final kilometres of stage three.
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The incident brought down five riders from five different teams including reigning champion Rohan Dennis' teammate - BMC rider Marcus Burghardt.
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The German was forced to retire from the race and left the other victims battered and bruised while American Tyler Farrar's bike was too damaged to
continue the climb up into Campbelltown.
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However, he was able to finish the stage after being loaned a bike and a pair of shoes by a kind-hearted saviour.
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It was the second moment of carnage in this year's Tour
after a number of general classification contenders – including three-time
champion Simon Gerrans – were brought down in a pile-up in the final sprint for
the line in stage two.
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Young Aussie Campbell Flakemore can sympathise with Burghardt after he broke his collarbone during the Tour Down Under last year.
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The BMC Racing team member was riding back to his hotel from stage two when the accident happened.
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Flakemore has been touted as a future star with teammate Cadel Evans particularly impressed with the youngster.
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In the 2013 edition of the Tour, Moviestar rider Giovanni Visconti was hospitalised after crashing heavily.
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