Jonas Vingegaard spoke about his fall. © ANSA / GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO

Vingegaard: "That only makes everything worse"

One of the favorites, Jonas Vingegaard, has reacted to his withdrawal from the Tour de France after a crash on the 15th stage.

July 20, 2026

From: dpa

“Of course, it’s very disappointing for us that it’s turned out this way and the tour ends like this. But that’s cycling. Luckily, it’s only a broken collarbone,” the Danish cycling star told the local broadcaster TV2.

Vingegaard, who was second overall before the stage, crashed in a roundabout with just over 22 kilometers to go and was forced to abandon the race. "Maybe we entered that roundabout a bit too fast, and then my front wheel just slipped out from under me. There's nothing you can do about it," said the two-time Tour champion, adding: "There's no point in hanging your head. That only makes things worse."

Doping control “may have played a role”

Vingegaard remained noncommittal about whether the nighttime doping control before the stage played a role in his crash. "You could say it certainly wasn't helpful. Whether that's the reason, I wouldn't dare speculate. It may well have played a part," said the 29-year-old.

Vingegaard had to undergo a doping control at 2:00 a.m. before the stage. Race leader Tadej Pogacar, who had a similar test at 5:00 a.m., saw a possible connection. "After a night where sleep is ruined, maybe that's why. His Tour is ruined. It's really sad," said Pogacar.