Mass crash on Tour briefly halts Stage 14; Pogacar, Vingegaard escape unscathed

Associated Press
Saturday, July 15, 2023 10:45 a.m. | Saturday, July 15, 2023 10:45 a.m.

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France’s Romain Bardet abandons the race Saturday after crashing during the 14th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 94.5 miles with a start in Annemasse and finish in Morzine Les Portes du Soleil, France.

AP

Doctors wait Saturday for the ambulance to evacuate Britain’s James Shaw who crashed during the 14th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 94.5 miles with a start in Annemasse and finish in Morzine Les Portes du Soleil, France.

AP

Britain’s James Shaw (left) gets medical assistance Saturday as France’s Romain Bardet (second right) talks to his team, after both riders crashed and retired from the race during the 14th stage of the Tour de France.

ANNEMASSE, France — Spanish rider Antonio Pedrero was evacuated by ambulance following a mass pile-up that briefly halted the 14th stage of the Tour de France soon after the start on Saturday.

Louis Meintjes, who was 13th overall, abandoned with a suspected broken collarbone. Esteban Chaves, from the EF Education Easypost team, also quit. Local hope Romain Bardet and James Shaw joined the list of withdrawals further down the road after they crashed in a downhill.

Dozens of racers crashed on a bend on a slippery road in Annemasse and many received treatment. An Intermarche-Circus-Wanty teammate of Meintjes, Adrien Petit, got back on his bike with his right leg bandaged.

Organizers decided to neutralize the stage for about 15 minutes. Stage 14 is a tough 152-kilometer (94-mile) trek featuring five climbs in the Alps.

Neither of the two race leaders was involved in the crash. Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard leads two-time champion Tadej Pogacar by just nine seconds.