Madrid, Aug 4 (IANS): Anyone who follows the sport of cycling knows that as well as being one of the toughest sports in the world, it can also be one of the most dangerous and many riders have lost their lives in high-speed collisions through the years.
Although the use of helmets and improved technology on bikes has made the sport safer, it is still not without its perils as demonstrated by two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, reports Xinhua.
The Spaniard, who also has a Giro de Italia and Vuelta de Espana (Tours of Italy and Spain) to his name, was one of the favourites to contest the title in this year's Tour de France against Chris Froome and eventual winner Vincenzo Nibali.
However, Froome crashed out on the cobbles in the rain of northern France and Contador did the same, sliding off the road on a rapid descent in the rain.
The Spaniard, who rides for the Tinkoff-Saxo team, was forced out of the race with a fractured tibia, but not before he had got back onto his bike and cycled for several more painful kilometres, before realising the extent of an injury which will also sideline him for the Tour of Spain.
Now three weeks after the crash, the rider Sunday said just how fast he was going when he fell.
"20 days after my fall in the Tour, I have downloaded the archives (of his performance) and been able to see the exact speed I was going when I fell," wrote Contador on his Twitter account, revealing the speed was - "76.8 kilometres an hour."
Which goes to show that high-speed professional cycling can be just as dangerous as it sometimes looks.