39 Riders Quit Tour of Catalunya

Organizers shorten stage 3 in wind, snow

Published March 22, 2012 12:00AM

Race officials at the Tour of Catalunya shortened stage three On Thursday as high winds and snow made conditions perilous and forced 39 riders to abandon the race. Veteran Australian cyclist Julian Dean, who was riding in his first race since breaking his shoulder last year, was hospitalized with a fractured leg. Several top riders, including Andy Schleck and Alejandro Valverde, withdrew before the start. “That was the hardest day of my life,” said stage winner Janez Brajkovic. “From the second climb, it was a matter of just surviving.”