Dog causes crash at Tour de France involving Philippe Gilbert and Denis Menchov

BRIVE-LA-GAILLARDE, France – A large black dog that crossed the road in front of Tour de France riders has caused a crash in the peloton involving Philippe Gilbert of Belgium and Denis Menchov of Russia.

All the racers who came down were able to resume. The crash happened after 120 kilometres of Friday’s 18th stage of the race between Blagnac and Brive-la-Gaillarde.

Gilbert, a former Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner, angrily approached the dog’s owners on the side of the road but was held back by BMC team manager John Lelangue.

Five years ago, Frenchman Sandy Casar won a Tour stage despite crashing because of a dog.