Crashes are part of the Tour de France. We regularly see them and squirm as many did yesterday when the third stage was marred a heavy crash which forced the then Yellow Jersey leader Fabian Cancellara out of the race with broken vertebrae in his back.
While some crashes are easily forgotten, Johnny Hoogerland will always be remembered for his horrific crash in the 2011 race.
The Dutch rider was in a lead group of five on Stage 9, when Juan Antonio Flecha was hit by a car. The impact result in Hoogerland being hit and somersaulting into barbed wire.
Miraculously, Hoogerland and Flecha both got back on their bikes to complete the stage, with Hoogerland taking the King of the Mountains jersey after the stage which he wore for three days. He was visibly emotional on stage after the crash when presented with the jersey.
Injuries from barbed wire are seen on the legs of Johnny Hoogerland of The Netherlands as he rides towards Saint Flour during the 9th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 208 kilometers starting in Issoire and finishing in Saint Flour, central France, Sunday July 10, 2011. Hoogerland was hit by a vehicle when riding in the breakaway group and crashed into a barbed wire fence. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Despite the crash taking place in 2011, Hoogerland only received compensation for the incident last November.
How much compo did Johnny Hoogerland want for this Tour de France crash? http://t.co/bXJVBT3Psj pic.twitter.com/sECZIHjBuW
— Sticky Bottle (@sticky_bottle) November 5, 2014
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