Defending champion Tadej Pogacar crashed on the 11th stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday, moments before a protester disrupted the sprint finish. The Slovenian rider touched wheels with another cyclist five kilometers from the line but quickly remounted and rejoined the peloton.
Pogacar was unharmed and thanked his teammates for their support after crossing the finish line. Team doctor Adrian Rotunno confirmed that Pogacar had suffered only minor injuries, including bruises and abrasions on his forearm and hip.
A protester wearing a “Israel out of the Tour” T-shirt ran onto the final straight, causing the stage to be disrupted. Norway’s Jonas Abrahamsen claimed the stage victory in the two-man sprint for the win.
Abrahamsen said he was overcome with emotion after winning his first Tour stage, having returned from a four-week injury break. The protest is linked to rising tensions over Israel’s military operations in Gaza, where thousands have been killed since October 2023.
Tour organizers declined to comment on the protest, while the Israeli team issued a statement later. Sources say other protests are planned along the tour route.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/en/abrahamsen-wins-tour-de-france-stage-11-pogacar-crashes-2025-07-16