Gerrans out of Tour

Team Sky’s Simon Gerrans has been ruled out of the Tour de France after X-rays showed he has a broken arm, the British team announced today.

The Australian was caught up in a crash seven kilometres into Sunday’s 189km eighth stage from Station des Rousses to Morzine-Avoriaz, which was won by Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank).

Gerrans has won a stage in each of the three Grand Tours – of Italy, France and Spain – but has endured a difficult Tour, including a heavy fall on stage two to Spa and another crash on stage three to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut.

The second fall required a hospital check to discover whether Gerrans had fractured his cheekbone, but he continued with stitches and bruising.

However, yesterday’s latest crash sees him ruled out of the Tour and Team Sky down to eight riders when the race resumes tomorrow.

“Obviously I’m very disappointed – I’ve had the sort of Tour de France you’d rather forget,” Gerrans told www.teamsky.com.

“I’m absolutely gutted that I’m not going to be able to help the other guys over the next two weeks.”

Team Sky leader Bradley Wiggins lost one minute 45 seconds on the first Alpine stage of the 2010 Tour and now lies 14th overall, 2mins 45secs behind race leader Cadel Evans.