Tour de France cyclist Einer Rubio required 20 stitches after he crashed head-first into the back of another team’s car.
Rubio, who rides for Team Movistar, was riding up Alpe d’Huez during Stage 19 on Friday when the UAE Team Emirates-XRG car suddenly braked in front of him.
The Colombian cyclist had no time to react and he smashed into the back of the car, which had stopped after a spectator had jumped out into the road.
Rubio was left bloodied and attended to by medical staff while the UAE team car drove off.
The 28-year-old suffered multiple face injuries and was taken to hospital before he was forced to withdraw from the Tour de France.
Joxean Fernandez Matxin, the team manger of UAE Team Emirates-XRG who was inside the car, said the accident ‘pains me deeply’ but stressed that a ‘far worse tragedy’ could have happened if the car did not stop before hitting the spectator.
The Spaniard also claimed that he did not realise that Rubio had hit the back of the car.
‘Today, I feel the need to explain what happened from my position inside the car during yesterday’s stage,’ Fernandez wrote in a post on Instagram.
‘In the final kilometres of the Alpe d’Huez climb, with thousands of fans right next to the road and the immense pressure typical of a decisive Tour stage, a spectator suddenly ran out and fell right beneath our vehicle.
‘My only reaction was to brake immediately to avoid running him over. It all happened in a split second, and my only thought was preventing a far worse tragedy.
‘After braking, we heard a loud impact behind us, but amidst the noise, the tension, the crowd, and the responsibility of continuing to protect the race leader, I didn’t learn the full extent of the accident, or that Einer had to withdraw from the Tour, until we reached the finish line. I immediately contacted the Movistar Team, its directors, riders, and staff to check on the situation and ask what had happened.
‘Those of us involved in cycling know that in such extreme situations, decisions are made in fractions of a second and always with the aim of protecting human life.
‘I deeply regret the consequences of this accident. If the decisions I made in that moment ended up affecting a rider in the peloton, I can only say that it pains me deeply.
‘At the same time, I believe it is important to remember that the safety of riders, teams, and fans also depends on the responsible behavior of those who enjoy this sport from the roadside.
‘I offer all my support and affection to Einer; I am deeply sorry for what happened and sincerely hope to see you back competing where you belong very soon. This has not been, and is not, an easy day for me, and I needed to share this with you.’
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