Tour de France crash leaves Einer Rubio needing 20 stitches
Team Movistar have confirmed that cyclist Einer Rubio required 20 stitches after being bloodied by an awful crash during the Tour de France. The 28-year-old struck the back of a UAE Team Emirates car on the Alpe d’Huez during Stage 19.
The accident occurred as he was making a steep climb with the vehicle in front appearing to grind to a halt after a fan fell onto the road. The Colombian subsequently smashed into the rear of the car and even appeared to break the windscreen.
He was visibly bleeding heavily from his face and was treated on the side of the road before being taken to hospital, as was confirmed in a Team Movistar statement.
Their official update read:
“Following the accident he suffered whilst climbing Alpe d’Huez, Rubio had to have around 20 stitches in his face. “The Colombian is being transferred to a hospital in Grenoble, where further tests will be carried out to assess the extent of his injuries.”
J OIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page Several clips of the clash have since emerged on X with eager fans captured cheering on the cyclists only for one to fall directly in front of a car that was forced to slam on the brakes and left little time for Rubio to do similar or swerve out of the way.
The caption of social media post from @el_pais read:
"Einer Rubio bids farewell to the Tour de France after colliding with the UAE team car. He crashed into the rear window of the vehicle following a sudden brake during the climb to Alpe d’Huez. Although serious injuries have been ruled out, the rider has suffered several cuts."
A spokesperson for UAE revealed that the spectator was not run over and described Rubio's injury, which arrived as a consequence, as "unfortunate". They told Cycling Weekly :
“A spectator fell forward directly into the path of the car. The car braked to avoid the collision. It was a very unfortunate incident and we wish Einer Rubio a speedy recovery.”
Joxean Fernandez, UAE's team manager and the individual who was driving the car, later issued a public statement of his own to Instagram . He revealed that his focus was to prevent a
"far worse tragedy"and upon learning of the situation has since
"contacted the Movistar Team, its directors, riders, and staff to check on the situation and ask what had happened".
Following the gruesome injury, as already mentioned, Rubio was forced to withdrawn from the Tour de France. He finished 31st on his debut in the race last year.
