Raid Gauloises

The Fickle Hand Of Fate Strikes Team Spie

Raid Gauloises / 27.04.2002

Mickaël Fargier, a member of team Spie-Batignolles, will not be competing in his first Raid Gauloises. After being hit by a motorcycle in Hanoi Mickaël Fargier was taken to hospital for observation and will not be able to start. His team-mates have found a last minute Franco-Vietnamese replacement.

Yesterday morning, team SPIE-Batignolles experienced a painful disappointment only a few minutes before the official team presentations. Knocked down by a speeding motorcycle when crossing the street, Mickael Fargier, is suffering head injuries and multiple contusions. Losing consciousness for a short moment, the ex kayak vice-champion of the world will have to spend 2 days in a Hanoi hospital under observation in case of any further neurological complications. Mickael will therefore have to forfeit the race.

His team-mates have finally come up with a last minute substitution: Franco-Vietnamese Fredo, resident in Hanoi. This is beginning to look a little like deja vu. Karim Benamrouche has seen it all before when a team member fell ill during the race in Malaysia and had to be replaced by a local villager Dawat, who had never before ridden a bike! It didn’t stop them making it to the podium though.

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