Good morning, everyone. After a full day without major sporting events — aside from baseball and a few minor tennis tournaments — we are back to the concluding stages of the Tour de France.
What else could we discuss than the Tour de France? Could this event have contained the most significant story in global sport on Sunday? As Fitzie suggests, it certainly seems that way.
Jonas Vingegaard, a two‑time Tour de France champion and rival of Tadej Pogacar, was forced to abandon the race during Stage 15 on Sunday. Below is an overview of the incident.
Now, a brief backstory.
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Vingegaard claimed victory in the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023. He is widely regarded as the sport’s leading rider, were it not for Pogacar. The Danish rider finished as runner‑up in the 2021, 2024, and 2025 Tours behind Pogacar. This year, Vingegaard was poised for another second‑place finish, underscoring a compelling rivalry.
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In 2024, Vingegaard suffered a punctured lung, a broken collarbone, and several rib fractures during the Tour of the Basque Country, which took place roughly four months before the Tour de France. Since then, my observation of his performances in the 2024‑2026 Tours suggests that he adopted a more cautious approach, perhaps influenced by his earlier injuries and his perceived disadvantage to Pogacar.
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He entered this year’s Tour de France after having won the Giro d’Italia, another prestigious cycling Grand Tour.
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On the night before the stage, Vingegaard was roused at 2 a.m. for a drug test, while Pogacar was awakened at 5 a.m.
Now, details of the crash. Midway through Stage 15, Vingegaard and Pogacar were in the peloton, with the Jumbo‑Visma squad leading the group. They entered a bend at excessive speed; Vingegaard lost control and crashed onto the pavement. Video footage clearly shows he sustained a broken collarbone.
His Tour de France ended abruptly. He was taken to an ambulance, and shortly thereafter Vingegaard confirmed the broken clavicle, stating that surgery would be required.
Remco Evenpoel, the Belgian cyclist often seen as a third wheel in this storied rivalry, went on to win the stage. Pogacar appeared indifferent to claiming victory and seemed visibly affected upon learning of Vingegaard’s withdrawal.
Pogacar later offered kind words to his rival and friend following the race:
The Tour continues today, and the competition remains intense — not for the overall win, but for podium positions. Leading contenders include Evenpoel, the 19‑year‑old French rider Paul Seixas (who wears the white jersey), Pogacar’s teammate and Mexican champion Isaac Del Toro, and British cyclist Tom Pidcock.
Nevertheless, Pogacar’s overall victory is far from secured. Grand Tours can turn on a single moment; Sunday’s stage served as a stark reminder. At present, Pogacar’s main objective is to remain safe and healthy while also supporting Del Toro’s bid for a podium finish.
For Vingegaard, exiting the Tour in such a manner is both harsh and arguably unfair. The incident’s implications for his career remain uncertain, but I hope it does not mark the end of his competitive journey.
Fitzie’s track of the day: Idiot Box, by Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
