TDF: a shiny new thread for 2012

[pll]

Jens wrote it was someone taking off their shoe covers at speed.

I heard an interview of Jonathan Vaughters where he said they had heard from Lampre (Garmin and Lampre were staying at the same hotel) that apparently Petacchi handed his shoe covers to Daniele Vigano (the Lampre guy seen laying in the ditch, broken collarbone). Vigano had one hand off the handlebar trying to stuff the shoe covers in his jersey pockets. It was a downhill, mostly tailwind, everyone packed like sardines... all needed was a wobble.

ETA: here is the video clip of the interview -- at 1:24 he discusses the stage 6 crash.