METZ, France, July 11 - Bobby Julich, one of the Tour de France top favourites, crashed out of the event in the 56.5-kms eight stage time-trial on Sunday.

The American, third overall last year, took a heavy fall while descending at nearly 90 kph shortly after the halfway point when his wheel clipped a kerb.

The Cofidis team leader lay motionless for some time before race doctors could reach him. Julich was taken to hospital with chest, rib, back and elbow injuries and was being detained overnight.

"He suffered a terrible blow in the chest," team director Bernard Quilfen said. "But the news is good. Bobby does not have any fracture. He has a bad pain in the elbow and a serious swelling in the chest."

The crash was all the more unfortunate for the American as he had based all his season around the Tour.

The 27-year-old was heavily fancied after finishing third last season behind Italian Marco Pantani and German Jan Ullrich, who are both missing the race this year.

He was also among the favourites for Sunday's time trial, having finished second and third in last year's trials, both won by Ullrich.