Tour de France: Favorite Jonas Vingegaard must abandon after crash

Two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard has been forced to abandon the 2026 race after crashing heavily on the 15th stage. The Danish rider, who was the closest challenger to race leader Tadej Pogacar in the general classification, fell around 20 kilometers from the finish line on the ascent to Plateau de Solaison.

Vingegaard, riding for the Visma-Lease a Bike team, crashed in a roundabout, bringing down several teammates and Isaac del Toro. While del Toro was able to continue, Vingegaard sustained injuries that necessitated his withdrawal. He was seen being placed into an ambulance with his right arm in a sling and reportedly in considerable pain.

Prior to the crash, Vingegaard was in second place overall, trailing Pogacar by 4 minutes and 30 seconds. His withdrawal significantly alters the dynamic of the race, removing a key contender from the battle for the yellow jersey.

This incident adds to a history of bad luck for Vingegaard in major races. He suffered a serious crash during the 2024 Tour of the Basque Country and had only recently recovered in time for this Tour. Last year, he also abandoned the Paris-Nice race after a fall. The rider had previously expressed doubts about his future in cycling, admitting in a rest day interview that he had considered retirement due to the physical toll.

Despite these challenges, Vingegaard had demonstrated strong form in 2026, having already won the Giro d'Italia. His withdrawal means he will not have the opportunity to contest the overall victory in the Tour de France, a race he has dominated in recent years.