September 10, 2012 (Knowsley, GBR) – Canada’s Jamie Sparling (Team Raleigh UK) suffered a crash with 15km to go on the run-in to Knowsley in today’s Stage 2 at the Tour of Britain, and has been forced to abandon. He was taken to hospital for examination and later released. Nothing is broken, but he suffered road rash and a severely bruised lower back and tailbone.

In yesterday’s Stage 1 on the narrow roads leading to Norfolk, he got caught behind a crash that split the peloton, and on the ensuing chase suffered a puncture 5km from the line. His 2012 season is now over and he will return to Canada later in the month.