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Saint-Flour - Reigning champion Alberto Contador's bad luck continued on the Tour de France on Sunday when he crashed for the fourth time in the race.
Saxo Bank leader Contador was riding on the left side of the main peloton when he inexplicably came down 84 km into the 208 km stage from Issoire to Saint-Flour in the hilly Massif Central.
The Spaniard wobbled before losing balance and landing on his right buttock but got back up immediately in a bid to pursue the peloton.
Contador chased by himself for around three kms before catching sight of the peloton, just as it began the 7.7km climb to the second of the stage's eight climbs, the Col du Pas de Peyrol.
However just as he reached two teammates who had dropped back from the peloton, he decided on a change of bike due to a niggling mechanical problem.
Contador's bid to defend his title got off to the worst possible start on stage one when he got caught up in a crash and lost over a minute to main rivals Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans, who have shared the past four runner-up places.
The Spaniard also hit the tarmac twice during the crash-marred fifth stage.
Unlike some rivals Contador has so far avoided injuries that could put paid to his bid for a fourth yellow jersey and seventh Grand Tour victory.
On Friday British challenger Bradley Wiggins crashed out with a broken collarbone, while Dutch climbing ace Robert Gesink has struggled to finish every day since crashing on Wednesday.
