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Come Fan with UsSunday, June 28, 2026

Lance Armstrong Crashes In Tour de California, Headed For X-Rays

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Lance Armstrong’s Thursday has gone from bad to worse.

Just before the start of the Tour of California's fifth stage today, Armstrong had to hold an impromptu press conference to deny allegations by Floyd Landis that the seven-time Tour de France winner covered-up a positive test for the blood-boosting drug EPO in 2002. Then, the fifth stage got underway ... and that's when Lance Armstrong crashed.

His coach, Johan Bruyneel, tweeted that it was “a huge crash” and that Armstrong was headed to the hospital for X-rays.

The fall came as a result of other riders losing control and starting a chain reaction.

The cyclists were on a two-lane road outside Visalia a few miles into the race when a rider in the main group skidded on some gravel and fell, causing others, including Armstrong, to crash.

Afterward, Armstrong sat on the ground with his legs spread out, his elbows on his knees and his hands on his face. His right cheek was bloodied in the wreck, and his right eye appeared swollen.

The Tour de California is an eight-day race, and is set to conclude this Sunday. It began in 2006, with the debut won by Floyd Landis, oddly enough, and it is now one of the largest cycling races in the U.S.

For all things cycling, visit Podium Cafe.

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