Here's the Kennedy Brothers version of Ocana's crash:
"Over the Col de Mente Fuente built up a huge lead. Minutes later Merckx led over the summit, with Ocana following, Guimard, Van Impe and Zoetemelk further down, and Gosta Petterson dropped. Even Ocana was some twenty meters down, having already countered two moves by Merckx. Suddenly the storm broke, the sky blackened, and the road became a twisting, cascading river. Brakes failed totally, and the leading riders were saved from destruction by the quickness of their wits and the soles of their shoes. For the second time Merckx hit the road as he failed to alter course in time to avoid the rocks lining the road. Similarly Ocana fell. Both picked themselves up, ready to rescue their crazy pursuit, but now it was Zoetemelk who failed to negotiate the corner and hurtlyed helplessly inot Ocana."
"Merckx fell twice more before the foot of the pass, and was passed by the incredible Wagtmans, belly-flop on his saddle with feet splayed out at the sides, both wheels smashed but himself undamaged and apparently enjoying it."
At the finish Merckx tried to withdraw from the race, and refused to wear the yellow jersey which Ocana had lost in such dramatic fashion.
Aldo Ross
82F, but still windier than blazes in Ohio