Saturday marked the penultimate day of the Tour de France, with riders facing some of the race’s most challenging segments. The mountainous roads presented potential danger, especially cliffs alongside the track. American cyclist Sepp Kuss experienced a near-disastrous moment during Stage 20.
Kuss, riding confidently near the stage’s end, approached a wide sweeping corner. Unfortunately, he understeered, crashing into a concrete barrier, right where a catch fence ended. This critical fence placement potentially saved him from a perilous drop-off.
The catch fence’s presence raises questions about whether its positioning was strategic or due to limited supplies. Nevertheless, Kuss certainly appreciates its lifesaving role.
While cycling demands courage, the consequences of missteps can be severe. If Kuss had gone over the barrier, the situation might have been dire. Despite avoiding such fate, his day was tough.
Kuss suffered two crashes during the stage. The first allowed him to hold onto the lead, but the second resulted in the loss of his leading position; he finished third. This stage represented a missed opportunity for Kuss to claim a stage win, which would have been the first for an American since 2021.
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