The cycling world was sent into a state of shock and concern after reigning Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard was involved in a terrifying high-speed mass crash during stage four of the Tour of the Basque Country.
The incident, which also involved other pre-race favourites, was so severe that the stage was immediately neutralised and ultimately cancelled.
Chaos on the Descent: A Peloton in Peril
The crash occurred on a technical descent with approximately 35 kilometres remaining in the race. Footage from the scene showed a chaotic pile-up, with riders and bikes strewn across the road. The gravity of the situation was immediately apparent, with medical personnel rushing to attend to the injured athletes.
Visma-Lease a Bike, Vingegaard's team, confirmed the Dane was transported to hospital. "Jonas is conscious and is being examined at the hospital. We will update when we have more information," the team stated, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the worrying news.
No One Spared: A List of Casualties
Vingegaard was not alone in his misfortune. The crash claimed a shocking number of the peloton's biggest stars:
- Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step): The former world champion was also taken to hospital. His team reported he suffered a broken collarbone and scapula.
- Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe): Reports indicated the Slovenian rider was bleeding heavily from what appeared to be a serious cut.
- Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers): The British hope was another caught up in the carnage.
- Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates): The Australian rider was also among the fallers.
The sheer number of high-profile casualties left the race in an untenable position, leading organisers to make the difficult decision to cancel the stage entirely.
Race Neutralised, Future Stages in Doubt
In an unprecedented move, race organisers officially neutralised the stage. A statement confirmed the cancellation, citing the "seriousness of the incident and the numerous injured." The statement extended solidarity to all those affected.
The future of the entire Tour of the Basque Country, a key preparation race for the Grand Tours, was thrown into immediate doubt. With so many team leaders and contenders seriously injured, the continuation of the event remains uncertain as teams assess the condition of their star riders.
The cycling community now waits anxiously for further medical updates, hoping for positive news on the recovery of its champions.
