Criterium du Dauphine Stage 5 Abandoned after Horrific Highspeed Pile up in the Rain
Stage five of the Criterium du Dauphine was abandoned on Thursday following a large high speed crash in the rain, with several riders carted off to hospital
What should have been a pretty straightforward stage turned into one of the most horrible days of this cycling season, after dozens of riders hit the ground in a crash that took place 20 kilometers from home.
Among the many involved in this incident there was also yellow jersey Remco Evenepoel, who fortunately got up from the ground and remounted his bike after being assessed by the Soudal Quick-Step medical staff. “Because of the rain, the roads became very slippery, and as we were on a descent, the crash happened. I don’t think anyone can be blamed for this. I was a bit unlucky, as I almost avoided the crash, but another bike got caught under my bike, and I ended up on the ground, on my right side again. Overall, I think I am ok, but I will know more tomorrow morning before the start of stage six”, Remco Evenepoel said.
Tour de France contender Primoz Roglic also fell, but got up quickly and appeared relatively unhurt. Primoz Roglic said "I fell on my shoulder, which is not the best thing. I had surgery on that shoulder a few years ago, so I'll have to take a look at it. But other riders have been in worse situations today and it's really annoying. I have to see the doctor," he said after the stage, “My helmet saved me today. I fell on my shoulder again and it’s bleeding but it should be OK, there’s guys far worse off than me.”
Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Dylan van Baarle and Steven Kruijswijk abandoned with injuries. The latter fell right in front of the spectator video that is circling around social media. This shows, in a static and different angle, the speed at which many riders slid out and hit the deck.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike later said in a statement, "Following the big crash today, Dylan van Baarle and Steven Kruijswijk were taken to the hospital. Examinations revealed that Dylan has fractured his collarbone and will need surgery. Steven has a small fracture in his hip that will heal with rest."
Le pauvre chien qui a eu la peur de sa vie ???? #Dauphiné pic.twitter.com/ehQDhVNljf
— ???????????? ???????????????? (@keyshawn__bava) June 6, 2024
Eventually, the organisers decided to neutralise the race and have the peloton ride to the finish in Saint-Priest at a slow pace. As a result, there was no winner at the end of the day and no times were taken in the general classification, which Evenepoel continues to lead following his stage four victory.
La chute la descente de la côte de Bel-Air qui a entrainé de très nombreux coureurs et la neutralisation complète de l'étape.
— Critérium du Dauphiné (@dauphine) June 6, 2024
The crash on the descent of the côte de Bel-Air which involved a large number of riders and led to the complete neutralisation of the stage.… pic.twitter.com/blRfrlhBio