ADELAIDE, Australia -- France's Thomas Voeckler broke his collarbone in a fall while training Tuesday and has withdrawn from the season-opening Tour Down Under.
Voeckler, a winner of four stages in the Tour de France, collided with a vehicle during a short training ride with his Europcar team. He was treated at a local clinic and will return to France for further treatment.
"A pedestrian crossed the road so a car braked very quickly and I didn't have time to brake and I bumped into the car. I immediately understand that my collarbone is broken as it's the third time it's broken," Voeckler said.
He first broke the collarbone during the 2009 Paris-Nice race and again during the Amstel Gold Race last year.
The Tour Down Under starts Sunday.