Jonas Vingegaard will have surgery for a fractured collarbone after a crash abruptly ended his Tour de France. The incident occurred near the end of the 15th stage on Sunday. The 2022 and 2023 Tour champion was part of a group of riders who fell near a kerb approximately 20 kilometers from the stage’s end. Vingegaard entered an ambulance with his right arm in a sling, marking the end of his race.
According to his Visma–Lease a Bike team, Vingegaard sustained a fractured collarbone and multiple abrasions. “Due to the severity of the collarbone fracture, surgical intervention has been recommended and will be performed in the coming days. Join us in wishing Jonas a smooth recovery,” the team stated on X.
Vingegaard was second overall behind defending champion Tadej Pogacar as Stage 15 began, which finished with a challenging climb. Marc Reef, the team’s sporting director, expressed disappointment over Vingegaard’s exit, noting, “It was quickly clear that Jonas could not continue. He was in a lot of pain.” This accident is a setback for the 29-year-old Danish rider, who previously joined the select group of riders to have won all three Grand Tours.
Pogacar, a four-time Tour champion, remarked, “I’m really sad to see Jonas crash out. Without him the Tour will not be the same.” Vingegaard’s teammate Sepp Kuss and Isaac Del Toro from Pogacar’s UAE Emirates XRG team also fell but managed to continue the race.
Pogacar’s yellow jersey group slowed after learning of the crash, unsure initially if Vingegaard would continue. They resumed racing after confirming he was out of the race. Before the crash, Vingegaard was preparing to attack during the 11-kilometer final climb up Plateau de Solaison in the French Alps.
The team had two riders in the breakaway and controlled the peloton. “Jonas felt extremely good and we wanted to go for the victory today. Unfortunately, cycling can be cruel at times,” Reef commented.
Del Toro finished third in the stage, behind Pogacar and stage winner Remco Evenepoel. Evenepoel moved to second in the standings, five minutes behind Pogacar, with Del Toro 5:58 back in third place.
Pogacar mentioned that he and Vingegaard were subjected to unannounced anti-doping tests early Sunday morning, with Pogacar’s test conducted at 5 a.m. and Vingegaard’s at 2 a.m.
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