Gent -Wevelgem

[Mike McHale]

Hi - great ride by Roger Hammond - T Mobile 1st and 2nd.I was watching on Cycling TV and the Jimmy Casper crash was horrible fortunately he will soon be in action again ( when Unibet are allowed to ride )If you are not of a delicate disposition there is a video of the crash on EurosportAnd to think I moaned when I grazed my knee!

[phil parker]

Yeah, I watched it on Eurosport yesterday and it wasn't particularly pleasant. Whilst I'm not squeamish - it did go through me because it reminded me of everytime I've had a crash. Very nasty!Congratulations to Roger Hammond - it was his hard work that got the win for Burghardt and kept the breakaway group ahead of the Peleton.

[Bally]

I think it was a separate crash on the same cobbled descent when about 6 went down, 1 guy got someone elses Bike wrapped round his head, Bikes and bits bouncing all over the road...gruesome.Edit :Look up the road on this and you can just see the others coming off

[phil parker]

Yeah, that's the one - the guy lying on the floor with blood all over his head, they showed it in slow motion and you could see his head/face bouncing off the cobbles. I've got to say I don't like watching it!!!

[Oz Matt {in Italia}]

Some more pics of the fall(s)Scroll down the page a bit on these to see Fabio Sacchi doing the high dive.And some more here of the mess.This one time, many years ago, while racing over the kemmelberg, I was given some sage advice just as we started the descent...Whatever happens, don't brake""

[VLAD]

Yes it was a sad sight to see so many injured riders lying on the floor and the cameras getting close up shots.Its a pity that they have to have the pictures to sell to the likes of us.But thats bike racing and what makes this sport so tough as well as the lengths of the rides and the conditions.Well done to Roger and look forward to Sunday.VLAD :{

[PLANET-X]

Its the Grand National this weekend,but heres the runners and fallers of Ghent-Wevelgem.Unibet.com Jimmy Casper and Matthew Wilson of Unibet.com ProTour team both fell in the descent of the Kemmelberg during Gent-Wevelgem today. Casper crashed in the first descent, Wilson fell in the second one a few kilometres later. Both riders were taken to the hospital in Ypres. Wilson and Casper are undergoing some X-ray scans to check on their heads and arms. Wilson may have broken an arm, Jimmy Casper has a split upper lip and a cut in his right cheek. Predictor Lotto Hard luck for our Wim De Vocht. After his crash at Kemmelberg in Ghent-Wevelgem, Wim has been found to have a broken thumb and several flesh wounds. So, no Paris-Roubaix Wim, who will be replaced by Björn Leukemans.Quickstep Quick-Step, also suffered on the descent of Mont Kemmel. Wilfried Cretskens suffered heavy bruising and a deep cut that required stitches, he will be out of action for the next two weeks. Meanwhile Kevin Hulsmans is suffering from a chest infection and will also miss Paris-Roubaix. Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner For around 20 riders the race finished in the hospital at Ypres after 2 lheavy crashes on the descent of Mont Kemmel. The crash on the first descent saw Andy Cappelle crash and on the second descent James Vanlandschoot was amongst the victims. James: suffered a broken elbow , injured hand and broken thumb. Andy: broken elbow and injured shoulderLampre Fondital Lampre-Fondital’s riders avoided mishap except for Corioni (luckily, he suffered only a light contusion)!Team CSC Allan Johansen and Luke Roberts were among the victims of one of many crashes – both are ok though and ready for this Sunday's final big battle on the cobble stones: Paris-Roubaix. Team Milram Alessandro Petacchi, Fabio Sacchi and Marco Velo crashed at the descent after the second passage of the Kemmelberg. While Petacchi dropped out with a damaged bike, Sacchi and Velo were taken to hospital.For Marco Velo, the diagnose was worse. He suffers from a broken right clavicle and two broken ribs. Furthemore he is suspected to have contracted torn ligaments in his right knee. He is to stay in hospital for the next 24 hours for medical observation. Cofidis Tyler Farrar is another patient of the hospital he has a suspected broken left knee cap. Gerolsteiner Heinrich Haussler again was unlucky and came down in the race, but fortunately following hospital examination managed to avoid any breakages , though he suffered deep bruises of the shoulder, knee and elbow. Dust yourself down and saddle up for Sundays Paris-Roubaix!!

[Robert Hick]

Watching that really made me cringe - when Eurosport showed the slo-mo of Casper coming off I was sure I could see one of his teeth coming out, but it could have been something else glinting in the sun.Not pleasant but I liked David Duffield's summary for any 'small boys watching that want to go pro not to be put off'.He's priceless!

[Oz Matt {in Italia}]

Priceless?Yes. I wouldn't give you anything for his commentary. Sorry.

[Robert Hick]

So turn the volume down, surely cognoscenti like us can follow every minutiae of a race without need for a commentary.But if you want to watch a bike race with a big grin on your face just crank up the volume!I remember that Murray Walker drew lots of similar critisism but his enthusiasm was infectious, I think Duffers is ace as well.