4 Jul 2025

The Top 10 Worst Tour de France Injuries

The Tour de France is widely recognised as the most gruelling endurance race in professional cycling, spanning over 3,000 kilometres and often tackled in searing heat, treacherous weather and punishing terrain. But, as well as crowing some of the world’s best athletes, the race has also seen its fair share of brutal crashes and career-threatening injuries.

Below, we countdown some of the worst Tour de France injuries from the past 10 years, and as we deep dive into each accident, it’s a sobering reminder of how quickly a professional athlete’s season, or even career, can be derailed.

1. 2015 – William Bonnet’s neck fracture

A high-speed crash on Stage 3 involving several riders saw French cyclist William Bonnet suffer a fractured cervical vertebra, with the incident leading to the temporary neutralisation of the stage due to safety concerns.

Due to the severity of his injury, Bonnet underwent spinal surgery and a long rehabilitation period, though Injuries like this have since highlighted the need for expert orthopaedic and neurological assessments – something which has seen a greater focus over the past 10 years.

 

2. 2016 – Alberto Contador’s double fracture

Two-time Tour winner, Contador, withdrew on Stage 9 after enduring two crashes that left him with a fractured tibia and bruising across his body, and whilst he initially attempting to push on, he eventually conceded to the pain.

 

3. 2017 – Richie Porte’s horror crash

Stage 9 of the 2017 Tour de France saw one of the most alarming crashes in the past decade, where Porte misjudged a bend and slammed into a rock face before sliding into the path of another rider after descending at high speed, suffering a traumatic fractured pelvis and clavicle.

 

4. 2018 – Philippe Gilbert’s ravine fall

Stage 16 saw veteran rider Philippe Gilbert fly over a wall and into a ravine while descending at speed, though miraculously, he was able to remount and finish the stage.

Later scans did reveal however a fractured kneecap, meaning causing him to withdraw from the race and undergo immediate surgery.

 

5. 2019 – Geraint Thomas’ stage 16 crash

The 2018 Tour winner suffered a terrifying crash when he hit a central island on a descent, flipping over his handlebars, and whilst he narrowly escaped major injury, he did suffer significant bruising and a shoulder impact.

 

6. 2020 – Fabio Jakobsen’s near-fatal crash

Although not technically during the Tour de France itself, Jakobsen’s crash in the Tour-linked Critérium du Dauphiné sent shockwaves through the sport when he was forced into barriers at high speed.

The accident led to brain trauma, facial fractures and lost several teeth, taking a year-long recovery and serving as a stark reminder to the dangers of the sport.

 

7. 2021 – Primož Roglič’s repeated crashes

Roglič suffered repeated crashes early in the 2021 Tour which culminated in severe road rash and bruising, though despite pushing on for several days, the pain forced him to abandon the race all together.

 

8. 2022 – Jack Haig’s stage 5 crash

Australian cyclist Jack Haig was forced out of the Tour after a heavy crash left him with multiple fractures including his wrist and shoulder, which would have severely affected his control and braking – another blow to Team Bahrain Victorious, who had already seen multiple withdrawals due to injury.

 

9. 2023 – Enric Mas’ day-one disaster

First-day exits are particularly disheartening for cyclists who’ve trained all year, and they highlight how accidents can occur before the race even properly unfolds.

Sadly, this was the case for Mas, who on the very first day of the Tour, crashed on a descent and was forced to abandon the race with a fractured scapula.

 

10. 2024 – Jonas Vingegaard’s terrifying crash in Basque Country

Although this crash happened in the Tour of the Basque Country leading up to the Tour de France, its impact was massive, as reigning Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard suffered multiple injuries including a broken collarbone, rib fractures and a collapsed lung.

Though he did make an incredible recovery to return to the Tour later in the year, it underscored just how fragile even the best in the world can be and highlighted how complex trauma can stop an athlete in their tracks.

 

Supporting Cyclists on The Road to Recovery

While professional cyclists often have a team of medics on standby, most people don’t.

At Speed Medical, we understand the unique challenges that come with cycling injuries, whether they’re the result of a collision, a fall or years of wear and tear. That’s why we offer:

• Swift access to physiotherapy

• Diagnostic imaging (MRI, CT, X-rays)

• Orthopaedic and neurological assessments

• Medical reporting for insurance or legal purposes

• And rehabilitation programmes tailored to cycling-related injuries

So, if you’ve been injured in a cycling incident either on the road, the track or in competition, Speed Medical can help you get back in the saddle with the support you need.

For more information, please visit www.speedmedical.com, contact our team via email at info@speedmedical.com or call us directly on 0330 094 8749.