Big Crash On Tour De France: Multiple Cyclists Drop Out After Stage 3 Pile-Up

There was a big crash on the Tour de France on Monday that led to a pause for the race amid multiple injuries. By the time the day was done, a handful of injured cyclists had departed the race. The incident happened during the third stage of the race and video is circulating showing the massive pile-up.

As the Daily Mail shares, the big crash on the Tour de France happened as a pack of cyclists were traveling in a tight group at speeds reported to be around 26 miles per hour. It seems that French rider William Bonnet was in the middle of the pack when he clipped fellow French cyclist Warren Barguil, who was in front of him. This led to a collision involving nearly two dozen cyclists.

Reports indicate that at least 20 bikers were involved in the collision. Officials put the race on hold for a short while as medical personnel rushed in to treat those injured.

A new start for the stage was done after the injured were taken care of, and the medical personnel were able to be redistributed along the route. There has been some criticism regarding the decision to halt the race, but officials are standing by the move, insisting that it was done in the interest of all the racers.

Swiss racer Fabian Cancellara was in the lead at the time of the Tour de France crash. He was one of the many injured, and video shows him flying over his handlebars as the accident played out.

Despite reportedly receiving a back injury, Fabian did continue on with the race. Later in the day, however, Cancellara announced via Twitter that he had gone to the hospital because he had broken some bones in his back and needed to withdraw from the race.

Bonnet, Dutch cyclist Tom Dumoulin, Russian Dmitry Kozontchuk, and Simon Gerrans from Australia all had to drop out of the stage after the big crash. Bonnet reportedly suffered a broken neck vertebra and will need surgery, and Dumoulin needed to be taken to the hospital, as well. Further details regarding the injuries sustained have not been widely reported as of yet.

At the end of the stage, former champion Chris Froome from Britain took over the overall lead and scored the yellow jersey, with Spanish racer Joaquim Rodriguez winning Stage 3. According to ESPN, none of the top contenders for this year’s race found themselves caught up in the big Tour de France crash. Stage 4 of the race will begin Tuesday in Belgium and finish up in Cambrai, France.

[Photo by Doug Pensinger / Getty Images]