Tour leader Wiggins' arm burnt by flare-waving fan

By Greg Keller

Associated Press

Published: Friday, July 13 2012 10:55 a.m. MDT

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Bradley Wiggins of Britain adjusts the overall leader's yellow jersey on the podium of the 12th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 226 kilometers (140.5 miles) with start in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and finish in Annonay, France, Friday July 13, 2012.

Laurent Rebours, Associated Press

Summary

Tour de France racers are used to dodging flags, people and the odd stray dog along the race route.

ANNONAY, France — Tour de France racers are used to dodging flags, people and the odd stray dog along the race route.

But flares?

Overall leader Bradley Wiggins wasn't so lucky during Friday's 12th stage from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay in the Ardeche region. The Briton was burnt on the arm by a spectator running alongside the peloton as it raced over the Col du Granier, one of the two category-1 climbs during the stage.

Wiggins, who said the injury was minor, blamed "some nutter running up the hill" and said it "shows you freak things like that can happen in the Tour."

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