Vingegaard crashes out of Tour de France with injuries

Jonas Vingegaard's hopes for another top finish in the Tour de France ended abruptly on Sunday when he crashed heavily with approximately 20 kilometers remaining in the 15th stage. The Danish rider appeared to injure his shoulder, specifically around the collarbone area, and was unable to remount his bicycle. He was subsequently transported away in an ambulance, showing clear signs of significant pain.

The two-time defending champion is now out of this year's edition of the world's premier cycling race. His team, Visma, stated they would provide an update on his condition as soon as possible via the platform X. The team had been preparing for a major offensive on the mountain stage when Vingegaard fell.

The crash occurred as the group of favorites navigated a roundabout. It appeared Vingegaard's front wheel slipped, causing him to lose control of his bike. The peloton largely slowed down in the aftermath of the accident, seemingly waiting to see what would happen. The riders had a short distance to the category-one climb of Plateau de Solaison, where the stage concluded, when Vingegaard was forced to withdraw.

Vingegaard was sitting in second place overall, trailing Tadej Pogacar of UAE Emirates by 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Throughout his career, Vingegaard has won four stages in the Tour, but he did not manage to secure a stage victory this year. This marks his fifth participation in the Tour de France, having won in 2022 and 2023 and finishing second in the other three attempts. It is the first time Vingegaard has been unable to finish a Grand Tour race.