Typically, roads on the Tour de France attain such excessive temperatures that the tarmac can develop into sticky, catching out unsuspecting riders as they descend at 80kmph plus. In 2003, ONCE’s Joseba Beloki was in second place general and descending from Col de la Rochette. Probably the most diligent course recce wouldn’t have unearthed a patch of tarmac softened by the noon solar, which despatched Beloki skidding, breaking his femur, elbow and wrist.
The organisers took discover and ever since 2003 now deploy water tankers earlier than the peloton are due by, to spray sections of highway which are inclined to melting.
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