US rider hit by car in road rage incident before Tour de France time trial

American cyclist Brandon McNulty was involved in an unsettling road rage incident on his way to the start of the Tour de France's 16th stage time trial. Mauro Gianetti, CEO of UAE Emirates XRG, told broadcaster Eurosport that an angry motorist overtook McNulty and then stopped his vehicle abruptly, causing McNulty to crash into it.

"Unfortunately, of course, Brandon crashed into the car," Gianetti said. "Apparently it's nothing so big and all good, but it was not nice. Yes, it was a car from the public, and we don't know."

Meanwhile, time-trial world champion Remco Evenepoel secured victory in the 16th stage, a 26.1-kilometer individual time trial. He finished more than a minute faster than the previous quickest rider, shaving 28 seconds off overall race leader Tadej Pogačar's advantage. This marks Evenepoel's third consecutive year winning a time trial at the Tour.

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Unfortunately, of course, Brandon crashed into the car. Apparently it's nothing so big and all good, but it was not nice. Yes, it was a car from the public, and we don't know.

However, the stage was not without its setbacks. Evenepoel's teammate Florian Lipowitz crashed heavily on a sharp bend near the finish, appearing to sustain a shoulder injury and unable to continue. "It's a bittersweet pill to swallow with this victory. I wish him all the best, and I hope he's not too bad," Evenepoel said of his teammate. "I will really miss him for the whole week."

Pogačar himself had a moment of concern, wobbling on the same corner where Lipowitz crashed but managed to recover. Despite this scare, the four-time Tour champion maintains a commanding lead of 4 minutes, 32 seconds over second-place Evenepoel with five stages left in the race.

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It's a bittersweet pill to swallow with this victory. I wish him all the best, and I hope he's not too bad. I will really miss him for the whole week.