Rubio (left) was involved in an accident during the Tour de France. © APA/afp / JEFF PACHOUD

Stitched up with 20 stitches: Horror crash keeps tour on edge

A serious accident occurred on the 19th stage of the Tour de France, raising the question of more protection for the riders.

July 25, 2026

From: never

The climb to Alpe d'Huez is considered one of the most iconic chapters in the history of the Tour de France: 13,8 kilometers and almost 1.110 meters of elevation gain must be conquered, and the peloton is pushed to its limits over the 21 hairpin bends with an average gradient of around eight percent. Thousands of fans repeatedly create unparalleled images as the riders weave their way through a human corridor. These are goosebump-inducing impressions – and yet, they also pose a great danger.

Einer Rubio (Movistar Team) became the latest victim of this uncontrolled crowd on the way to Alpe d'Huez. The 28-year-old Colombian was behind the UAE Team Emirates-XRG team car during the steepest part of the climb when it had to brake abruptly due to a fan falling into the corridor. Rubio slammed face-first into the back of the car without braking.

Rubio sewn with 20 stitches

“Rubio had to have around 20 stitches in his face after the accident he suffered while climbing Alpe d’Huez. The Colombian will be transferred to a hospital in Grenoble, where further examinations will be carried out to determine the extent of his injuries,” Movistar Team said in a statement.

A bitter end for the South American cycling star, which once again reignites the safety debate in cycling. In no other sport at this level do fans get so close to their heroes. On the one hand, it's a romantic oasis of well-being in a sporting world where commercialism is becoming increasingly important. On the other hand, however, it's a considerable danger – especially given that just a few fans are enough to cause chaos like the one in Rubio's case.

Rubio's crash: How do you protect the riders?

“We need to find ways to make it safe for everyone. Not just the riders, but also the spectators. I mean, I was in the car and we almost ran over at least 100 different people during today’s stage,” Movistar’s sporting director Sebastian Unzue remarked in an interview with Cycling-News.com “We are reaching a point where it is no longer safe for anyone.”

The images on TV might paint a picture of a boisterous party atmosphere. For those involved, it doesn't always feel that way. "Perhaps it would help to put up barriers from bottom to top to avoid situations like this. Because it's not actually a narrow street. If there had been barriers, this could have been avoided – then the driver would have had room to maneuver. As I said: It's great to see the fans today and experience how they're all having fun. But for us, this isn't a party day," said Unzue.