Fractured kneecap shelves Valverde

Spanish veteran Alejandro Valverde sustained a broken kneecap in a crash that knocked him out of the Tour de France on Saturday, his Movistar team said.

Valverde’s departure could have a major impact as he was due to help Movistar’s Colombian leader Nairo Quintana in the mountains.

The 37-year-old Valverde, who was third overall two years ago, came down hard on a slippery bend in wet conditions during Saturday’s opening stage 14km time trial.

Briton Geraint Thomas won the stage and will wear the leader’s yellow jersey in Sunday’s second stage from Dusseldorf, Germany, to Liege, Belgium.