The seventh stage of the Tour de France ended in farcical fashion on Friday when an inflatable arch deflated and slowed down several riders and sending Briton Adam Yates crashing to the ground.
Stephen Cummings powered to a stunning solo win, as the arch, marking 1km of the stage to go, slowed down the chasing pack.
Cummings jumped away from the day's breakaway and held off 2014 Tour champion Vincenzo Nibali on the Col d'Aspin, the first big climb this year, before descending safely to the Lac de Payolle to give his African-based team their fourth stage win of the year.
Greg Van Avermaet retained the overall leader's yellow jersey but Australia's Richie Porte remaining way off the pace in 23rd spot, 8min 27sec behind the Belgian.
Yates got back on his bike and crossed the line with blood on his chin.
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"He was on his own when it happened, the arch fell in front of him and he did not have time to brake so he did a somersault and fell on his face," said his Orica-Bike Exchange sports director Lorenzo Lapage.
"The doctor is checking him...his shoulder is aching."
Yates said: "I'm disappointed. There's not much you can do, I had no time to react.
"It's a good job it was just me on my own. It could have been a lot worse."
Yates lost considerable ground but he and the other riders in the bunch who were slowed down should not lose any time, said race director Thierry Gouvenou.
"We have a time control at the three-kilometre (left) mark so it is likely that we'll be taking the timings at that point."
According to provisional results, Yates finished 73rd in the stage and lies 30th in the overall standings.
