Vingegaard was the only one of the big names from Itzulia who had not fallen in the Basque race. He had respected his luck in the first three stages, which were very eventful. Everything went wrong in the fourth, on the descent from the Olaeta pass, when in a curve to the right there was a multiple fall at high speed in which the double winner of the Tour was affected as well as Roglic and Evenepoel.
The three fell into a ditch when there were 34 kilometers left until the Legutio finish line and had to abandon the race as a result of the injuries from the impact. Roglic and Evenepoel left sore on their own feet to get into their respective teams' cars. The Belgian champion seemed to have his right collarbone affected, which would force him to undergo surgery. The Slovenian from Bora, who had already fallen the day before, raised his thumb when his car started. Instead, the Dane had to be evacuated on a stretcher and by ambulance.
Vingegaard is the one who stayed on the ground the longest after the fall, which gave an idea of the seriousness of the accident. Soon the assistants from his team, Visma, arrived, took off his helmet and placed him on his side, in a fetal position, so as not to worsen his injuries while they waited for the arrival of medical services. A couple of companions waited for him but they both resumed walking when they realized that their leader could not continue.
Vingegaard's season, who had his third victory in the Tour de France as his main goal, is in question, since he also had to be immobilized with a collar on his neck. The Dane, who in 2024 had already won O Gran Camiño and the Tirreno-Adriatico, stopped competing after the Itzulia and reappeared in the Dauphiné at the beginning of June.
The team was quick to indicate that the cyclist was conscious while being taken to the hospital, where he was going to be examined.
The race had to be neutralized by the organization due to security measures since the three ambulances following the peloton had to transport other injured cyclists to the hospitals in Vitoria. In addition to the favorites, Jay Vine (UAE), Tesfatsion (Lidl) and Quinn (Education First) also fell.
Roglic's yellow jersey is inherited for the fifth day by the Dane Mattias Skjelmose, who was third overall after the Slovenian and Evenepoel. While when the race resumed, the stage, which was only competed by the six escapees, went to Meintjes (Intermarché), who only half celebrated.
The curve was not tight but it was very fast. When I turned and the asphalt ran out, there were some stones and a concrete ditch where Vingegaard and Roglic were hit and damaged. Evenepoel avoided those first obstacles but fell in the middle of the forest. The descent of Olaeta, a second-class port, can mark the cycling season. Three of the Tour's favorites will see their preparation for the start in Florence on June 29 greatly altered. 85 days left.
