Jonas Vingegaard has crashed out of the Tour de France, after starting stage 15 in second place.
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider slid out on the exit of a roundabout and was seen holding his right shoulder on the ground.
With the peloton waiting up ahead, Vingegaard was seen getting into an ambulance, putting an end to his challenge to win a third Tour de France title.
The incident occurred with 21km of stage 15 to go, with the Danish rider’s Visma-Lease a Bike team working hard to close down a breakaway.
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The Danish rider had started the day with a deficit of 4.30 to Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who already had four stage wins to his name. Vingegaard, however, remained unbowed, repeatedly stating in interviews that he was at the race to win.
Sunday’s stage 15 was clearly one he had an eye on, the final steep climb suiting his characteristics. And while we will never know whether or not he would have been able to challenge Pogačar on the climb to the Plateau de Solaison, he was certainly going to try.
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The team had a clear plan, sending riders up the road, both of whom had been caught and were pulling on the front when the incident happened. With Victor Campenaerts leading around the roundabout, Vingegaard was fourth wheel, appearing to clip the kerb on the exit.
Vingegaard, who won the Tour de France overall in 2022 and 2023, also won the Vuelta a España last year, completing the Grand Tour trilogy in May by winning the Giro d’Italia.
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This is the first time he has abandoned a Grand Tour.
Vingegaard’s exit changes the complexion of the race, and while Pogačar appeared safe in the yellow jersey, the battle for the podium loses a key figure, with the likes of Paul Seixas, Remco Evenepoel, Florian Lipowitz, and Juan Ayuso suddenly eyeing second place.
