Co-favourite Jonas Vingegaard has reacted calmly to his withdrawal from the Tour de France following a crash on the 15th stage. “Of course, it’s very disappointing for us that it’s turned out this way and that the Tour is ending like this. But that’s just the way cycling is. Fortunately, it’s only a broken collarbone,” the Danish cycling star told his home broadcaster, TV2.
Vingegaard, who was second overall going into the stage, crashed at a roundabout a good 22 kilometres from the finish and was subsequently forced to abandon the race. “Perhaps we went into that roundabout a bit too fast, and then my front wheel just slipped out from under me. There’s nothing you can do about it,” said the two-time Tour champion, adding: “There’s no point in getting downhearted. That just makes everything worse.”
Night-time doping tests ‘may have played a part’
Vingegaard left open the question of whether the night-time doping test before the stage had played a part in the crash. “I suppose you could say it certainly wasn’t helpful. Whether that was the reason, I wouldn’t dare to speculate. It may well have played a part,” said the 29-year-old.
Vingegaard had to undergo a doping test at 2.00 am on the night before the stage. Overall leader Tadej Pogacar, who had to undergo a similar test at 5.00 am, may have seen a connection between the two. “After a night where his sleep was ruined, perhaps that’s the reason. His Tour is ruined. It’s really sad,” said Pogacar.
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