In a dramatic turn of events during the Tour de France on July 16, 2023, defending champion Tadej Pogacar experienced a crash on the 11th stage, just moments before Norwegian cyclist Jonas Abrahamsen secured his first stage victory. Pogacar's incident occurred approximately five kilometers from the finish line when he inadvertently touched wheels with another rider. Fortunately, he quickly remounted his bike, and the peloton slowed down to allow him to rejoin the pack.
After crossing the finish line, an unscathed Pogacar expressed gratitude towards his fellow competitors for their support during the race. "I'm quite okay, a bit beaten up, but we've been through worse days," he told reporters. "It’s been a hectic day from start to finish. I had a little bit of a crash, and thanks to the peloton in front, they actually waited." Pogacar's appreciation for the peloton was evident, as he acknowledged that the race could have continued without him, but his competitors chose to show respect by slowing down.
The team doctor, Adrian Rotunno, later provided an update on Pogacar's condition, confirming he had been cleared to continue racing. "Fortunately, Tadej suffered no serious injury. There is no concussion or fractures, just some general bruising and abrasions to his left forearm and hip," Rotunno stated. The medical team will continue to monitor Pogacar’s condition as the race progresses.
Meanwhile, Ireland's Ben Healy, who retained the coveted yellow jersey, shared that he had a brief conversation with two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard, who is considered Pogacar's main rival. Both agreed to wait for Pogacar to rejoin the race, showcasing sportsmanship amidst the competitive atmosphere.
As the stage concluded, Abrahamsen triumphed in a thrilling sprint against Swiss national champion Mauro Schmid. Reflecting on his victory, Abrahamsen shared his emotional journey back to racing after breaking his collarbone just four weeks prior. "I cried at the hospital because I thought I wouldn’t make it to the Tour de France," he said. "To stand here in the Tour de France and have won a stage is amazing."
In an unexpected twist, a protester disrupted the final sprint wearing a T-shirt that read "Israel out of the Tour" and brandishing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf. The protest occurred less than 25 meters from the finish line but was quickly handled by security personnel. Tour organizers have refrained from commenting on the protest, while the Israel-Premier Tech team, which notably has no Israeli riders in this year's race, indicated that they would issue a statement later.
The protest coincides with escalating tensions due to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in over 58,000 Palestinian deaths, according to health authorities in Gaza. In addition, nearly 1,650 Israelis and foreign nationals have lost their lives, including 1,200 fatalities from the October 7 Hamas attack, based on Israeli reports. Sources suggest that additional protests may occur along the Tour route in the coming days.
The stage began at a rapid pace, featuring a five-man breakaway and a group that included classics specialists Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. As the race unfolded, the peloton eventually eased off, allowing the breakaway group to determine the outcome. The final climb, an 800-meter ascent averaging 12.4%, saw Abrahamsen and Schmid emerge as frontrunners, with Van der Poel making a strong attempt to catch them but ultimately falling short.
As anticipation builds for Thursday’s stage 12, the focus will shift to the first high-mountain showdown featuring a summit finish at the iconic Hautacam. All eyes will be on Pogacar as he prepares to tackle the challenges ahead following his crash.
