Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez drops out of Tour de FranceJuly 8, 2012 - 18:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez of Spain crashed out of the Tour de France on the eighth stage from Belfort to Porrentruy in Switzerland Sunday, July 8. According to AFP, Sanchez, who rides for Euskaltel, came down hard on his shoulder and appeared to suffer a collarbone injury. The Spaniard was attended to by medics before gesturing that he could not go on and, in tears, was taken away on a stretcher. The official race doctor later said Sanchez had suffered "left shoulder trauma" but could not confirm whether his collarbone was broken. Sanchez won the Olympic road race title in Beijing in 2008 and last year was crowned the King of the Mountains at the Tour after winning the climbers' competition. The men's Olympic road race takes place on July 28, six days after the end of the Tour de France in Paris. However Spain could struggle to align a team capable of challenging favourites like Mark Cavendish of Britain, Germany's Andre Greipel and Australian Matt Goss. Spain's former three-time world champion Oscar Freire and Jose Joaquin Rojas, both sprinters, have both been forced off the Tour due to injury earlier in the week. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |