Two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard hospitalized after crash in Spain

In a shocking turn of events at the Tour of the Basque Country, two-time defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard suffered a serious crash during Thursday’s fourth stage. The Danish rider, who was set to face off against his rival Tadej Pogačar in the upcoming Tour de France, broke his collarbone, several ribs, sustained a collapsed lung, and a pulmonary contusion. Vingegaard remains hospitalized in Spain, casting doubt on his participation in the highly anticipated rematch at the Tour de France.

The chaos continued at the weeklong race when Mikel Landa and Gil Gelders crashed in the fifth stage, with Landa suffering a fractured clavicle. Romain Gregoire emerged victorious in Friday’s stage, while Mattias Skjelmose maintained the overall lead heading into the final stage on Saturday.

The crash also took out other top riders like Primoz Roglič and Remco Evenepoel, who both sustained injuries and needed hospital treatment. Evenepoel, a former world champion, is set to undergo surgery for a broken collarbone and shoulder blade. Despite the setbacks, he remains hopeful for his long-term goals.

The accident, which occurred during a routine turn, caught everyone by surprise, including race director Julián Eraso, who deemed the curve to be “easy” to handle. The unexpected crash serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of cycling races, even on seemingly safe roads.

As the cycling world waits for updates on Vingegaard’s condition and the aftermath of the Tour of the Basque Country crashes, the focus shifts to the upcoming Tour de France and the potential impact on the race’s top contenders.