Policeman crash tackles Dean

Australian sports director Matt White has revealed that one of his riders, New Zealand sprinter Julian Dean, was crash tackled by a policeman while warming up on his bike for the 16th stage of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees.

It is believed the policeman thought Dean was an errant spectator.

Dean (Garmin-Transitions), who was at the centre of the controversial sprint finish to Bourg-les-Valence in stage 11 that led to the disqualification from the tour of NSW's Mark Renshaw (HTC Columbia), was brought to the ground by the gendarme while riding up the first-category Col de Peyresourde.

The climb started immediately after the start, and many riders put themselves through their paces on the ascent before the stage began to prepare their lungs and legs for the expected rapid start.

White said Dean, 35, was nearing the halfway mark of the 11km climb when the policeman suddenly darted out and took him to ground. Dean was stunned and the policeman cut his hand as they went down.

As Dean got back to his feet, the policeman tried to stop him from riding back down to the team bus at the start. Descending was not easy, as the spokes in both his carbon fibre wheels had been broken.

White was astonished when Dean returned and told him: "We may have a problem."

After learning of the incident, the team spoke with tour race director Christian Prudhomme. "We were concerned, to say the least," White said during yesterday's rest day.

For Dean, it was another bizarre incident in a colourful career. In last year's tour, he was one of two riders shot by someone in the crowd with an air gun. Tour surgeons discovered some of the pellet was still in his finger after the race.

- The Marlborough Express