In spite of being implicated in the serious crash that took place in the final 500 meters of yesterdays stage 1 of the centennial edition of the Tour de France, Team CSC captain Tyler Hamilton has chosen to remain part of the Tour peloton. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

Team CSC press relations manager Brian Nygaard told Roadcycling.com that Hamilton, who fractured his right collarbone in the crash, has not been able to get much sleep last night due to serious pains. In spite of this, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>
Tyler will do everything possible to remain in the race for as long as possible.

The American is receiving treatment with painkillers, but the collarbone is fractured in two places.
Hamilton told the press that it is a so-called ?V-shaped fracture?.

Other riders are not as fortunate as
Hamilton. Both Armstrong-challenger Levi Leipheimer and Marc Lotz of Rabobank will not start today.

Eliminating some of Lance Armstrong?s worst enemies, the stage 1 crash has made it even more likely that Armstrong will repeat his success this year by taking the overall victory in the Tour de France.

Got any comments or heads-ups for Hamilton? Send them to us at info@roadcycling.com and we'll pass them along to Tyler for you.

Follow Lance?s strive for five on Roadcycling.com. Visit our Tour de France section for live stage updates, interviews, giveaway and even more.

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