Lack of medical support leads to cancellation of Dauphiné stage.
The Dauphiné-Rundfahrt is one of the final endurance tests before the Tour de France. During a race, around 30 cyclists collided on a wet road, cancelling the stage. About 21 kilometers before the finish line, on the fifth section to Saint-Priest, the slick road conditions caused several cycling pros to fall. Later, the organizers decided to neutralize the stage due to insufficient medical assistance on the scene. They announced, "No times will be taken on this stage, and there will be no stage winner."
In the mass collision, both Belgian leader Remco Evenepoel and Slovenian superstar Primoz Roglic from the German team Bora-hansgrohe were involved. Despite their injuries, they seem to have emerged relatively unscathed, while some other riders required on-site treatment.
Television pictures showed Dutch rider Steven Kruijswijk being transported away, while his countryman and teammate Dylan van Baarle sat in a roadside ditch with a bandaged arm. Both were intended to assist Tour de France title defender Jonas Vingegaard, starting June 29th. Evenepool lingered at the finish line, sporting a bloody knee.
The rain-soaked asphalt appeared ice-like, with riders sliding meters over the slick surface. Currently, Evenepoel ranks first in the overall standings, and Roglic trails by 33 seconds.
The Rundfahrt serves as vital preparation for potential Tour de France teams and riders. Since 1947, it has been an annual event. So far, only one German, Udo Bölts, has won (in 1997).
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Although the collision disrupted the race, Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic continued cycling, demonstrating their resilience. After the incident, the organizers emphasized the importance of better medical support during future stages.
