Jonas Vingegaard exits Tour de France after late Stage 15 crash
The two-time Tour winner was in second overall when he crashed about 20 kilometers from the finish of Stage 15, the Associated Press reported.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour de France is over after a crash near the finish of Sunday’s 15th stage in France, according to the Associated Press.
The 29-year-old Danish rider, a two-time winner of the race, went down with several other cyclists close to a kerb with about 20 kilometers, or roughly 12 miles, left in the stage, AP reported from Plateau de Solaison.
Vingegaard did not continue. After spending a few moments on the road, he limped to an ambulance with his right arm in a sling, according to AP.
No further medical details were reported by AP. The report did not say what caused the riders to fall.
A major contender is out
Vingegaard had been sitting second overall going into Stage 15, behind defending champion Tadej Pogacar, according to AP. His exit removes one of the race’s biggest names from the Tour with the mountains still looming over the general classification battle.
Sunday’s stage ended with a major climb, AP reported. Vingegaard crashed before that finish, cutting short a campaign in which he had been chasing another yellow jersey after previous victories in 2022 and 2023.
Vingegaard rides for Visma-Lease a Bike. AP identified him as one of the few riders caught in the incident near the kerb late in the stage.
A champion’s Tour ends abruptly
Vingegaard’s withdrawal is a hard sporting blow because of his place in cycling’s elite. AP reported that he is one of only eight male riders to have won all three Grand Tours.
His Tour de France record already includes back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. This year, he entered Stage 15 as the nearest overall challenger to Pogacar, the defending champion.
The crash happened near the end of a stage that was already set up for a demanding finale. Instead of contesting the climb, Vingegaard left the race in an ambulance after the fall, AP reported.
The Tour continues without one of its central contenders. AP did not report any immediate update from Visma-Lease a Bike on Vingegaard’s condition beyond the scene after the crash.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.