Multiple riders affected in stage 12 crash
A significant crash occurred in the final kilometer of stage 12 of the Tour de France, impacting numerous riders as they approached the sprint finish in Chalon-sur-Saône. The incident, which happened within 5km of the finish line, meant that riders involved were given the same time as the main group, though the physical toll on many was considerable.
Among those affected were riders from various teams, with Lotto-Intermarché and UNO-X Mobility having multiple team members caught in the pile-up. The high-speed nature of the crash, as riders positioned for the final sprint, led to immediate concerns about their ability to continue in the race.
Fernando Gaviria of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA and Jenno Berckmoes from Lotto-Intermarché both sustained broken collarbones. Gaviria’s injury was confirmed after tests, revealing a fracture in his left collarbone, leading to his withdrawal from the Tour de France. Berckmoes also suffered a broken collarbone and is scheduled for surgery in Belgium.
Injuries and withdrawals
The crash had immediate consequences for several competitors, with some already confirmed as non-starters for stage 13 due to their injuries. Fernando Gaviria, a Colombian sprinter, experienced a heavy fall after another rider cut him off, resulting in intense pain in his left collarbone area.
Jenno Berckmoes‘s team expressed disappointment at his forced departure from the race following his heavy crash during the sprint. His teammate, Liam Slock, was also involved in the same incident, primarily sustaining abrasions to both elbows and his right hip. He is expected to continue in the Tour after overnight recovery.
Dorian Godon of Netcompany Ineos crashed after a rider fell in front of him. Initial assessments by the race doctor and his team doctor found no evidence of concussion, though he sustained skin abrasions and muscular back pain. He will be closely monitored, adhering to UCI concussion guidelines.
Pavel Bittner of Picnic PostNL was also caught in the crash during the finale, though initial reports indicated he appeared to be okay. The incident occurred just 350m from the finish line, significantly disrupting the sprint contest.
UNO-X Mobility riders Søren Wærenskjold, Jonas Abrahamsen, and Anthon Charmig were all brought down in the final kilometer. All three sustained multiple cuts and abrasions. Initial examinations did not identify injuries requiring X-rays, but they will be closely monitored, including for concussion where necessary.
Vlad Van Mechelen of Bahrain Victorious was involved in the incident, with reports indicating he moved to the left, causing Fernando Gaviria to clip his wheel. Van Mechelen was subsequently fined 500 CHF and 18 points in the points classification, relegated to the last place in his group, and received a yellow card for “deviation from the chosen line that endangers other riders.”
Monitoring and recovery
The situation remains fluid as teams continue to assess their riders. Many who were involved in the crash, such as Dorian Godon and the UNO-X Mobility riders, are undergoing ongoing monitoring despite initial checks not ruling them out of continuing the race. The impact of the crash, including potential delayed symptoms, will be closely watched.
Søren Wærenskjold, who had won the previous stage, crashed again in stage 12, sustaining torn shorts, blood on his elbow, and black marks on his shoulder. His team director indicated that initial prognoses were positive after checks by the team medic. Tadej Pogačar and other general classification rivals were delayed by the pile-up but reached the finish without time impacts on the general classification.
The medical updates are ongoing, with teams providing information on their riders’ conditions following the crash. Fernando Gaviria‘s team confirmed his withdrawal from the Tour de France due to his left collarbone fracture.
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Source: cyclingnews.com
