YORK cyclist Charles Wegelius goes into today’s second stage of the Tour de France from Brussels to Spa in 123rd place after a dramatic first stage.
There were three major crashes in the final three kilometres of yesterday’s 223.5km stage south along the North Sea coast from Rotterdam to Brussels.
Alessandro Petacchi emerged unscathed from the crash-strewn opening to claim his first stage victory since 2003.
Wegelius was 126th in the opening day prologue in Rotterdam on Saturday, clocking 11 minutes ten seconds.
The Omega Pharma-Lotto rider is one minute ten seconds behind the leader.
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