Lance Armstrong has dropped out of the Amgen Tour of California after crashing just before 11:00 a.m. Thursday on Stage 5 between Farmersville and Exeter. The 7-time Tour de France winner was taken to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital for x-rays.
The cyclist received stitches in his left elbow and under his left eye. His manager ‘tweeted’: “Sorry to report there was a huge crash. Lance had to abandon and is going to the hospital for Xrays.”
Armstrong also hit his Twitter page to report on his status: “I’m alive. Fell face first and banged elbow pretty good. Xrays on the elbow were neg. Extremely disappointed not to be able 2 continue.”
An hour later he provide a ‘twitpic’ showing damage to his face and ‘tweeted’: “Just when I thought I couldn’t get any uglier.” Check it out below.
That wasn’t the only drama today. Before the start of the race, Armstrong spoke about allegations leveled by former teammate Floyd Landis, who claims that he and Armstrong used EPO and blood transfusions in the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Landis fired off e-mails to senior cycling officials, prompting Armstrong to respond. Hear what he had to say on the video after the jump.
The race began in Visalia at 10:30 a.m. and finished in Bakersfield.
More crash photos (warning: bloody) and video below:
Photos: PicApp; Twitpic; video screenshot