Brown wins as Armstrong avoids carnage

A couple of major crashes overshadowed Graeme Brown’s victory in an eventful stage three of the Tour Down Under which finished in the seaside town of Victor Harbor, near Adelaide, today.

Defending champion Andre Greipel was one of several riders that came off their bikes and had to retire. Greipel collided with a parked motorbike and was taken to a local medical centre with what is believed to be a dislocated shoulder.

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, making his return after a three-year absence, was in a group of 14 riders that made an early break from the peloton but eventually finished in 32nd position.

Brown (Rabobank) managed to avoid the collisions but stage two winner and ochre jersey holder Allan Davis (Quick Step) was involved. The Australian managed to dust himself off, join the peloton and finish in second place.

Davis said Greipel was an ’unlucky’ rider in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“I knew he was going to hit it so I moved over to the right. He hit it and his bike threw out in front of me,” Davis said.

“It was unfortunate because it was at a time when the race was really sweating up.

“I came down but I was able to continue. I lost minutes but I had a great team and without them I wouldn’t have got back.”

South Australian Stuart O’Grady came third in the 136-kilometre stage.