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Former US champion Brandon McNulty\u2019s preparations for the Tour de France TT took an unexpected turn on Tuesday when he was brake checked by a car while traveling to the stage start.<\/p>\n
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UAE Emirates-XRG team manager Mauro Gianetti revealed the incident while speaking to TNT Sports.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was just coming to the start with the bike. One car was a little bit upset behind him. We don\u2019t know why,\u201d he said. \u201cThen he overpassed Brandon, and he stopped the car. Unfortunately, of course, Brandon crashed on the car.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fortunately McNulty was not badly hurt and was able to start his time trial.<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently it\u2019s nothing so big and all good, but it was not nice,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a car from the public.\u201d<\/p>\n
McNulty was duly able to start his TT. That is currently in progress at the time of writing, with the American riding solidly.<\/p>\n
He is a key support rider for race leader Tadej Poga\u010dar, and so may have to hold something in reserve in the TT.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Netcompany Ineos rider Thymen Arensman had his own pre-race complication, arriving over 10 seconds late for the TT start.<\/p>\n
That became a big factor when he scorched around the course and finished the test just five seconds off the provisional best time, costing him a chance in the hot seat and potentially a big stage result.<\/p>\n