A spectator was treated by the Tour de France’s medical staff after being involved in an apparent collision with the driver of an EF Education-EasyPost team car in chaotic scenes on Alpe d’Huez.
As hundreds of thousands of fans flocked to the iconic 13.8km ascent to see Tadej Pogačar solo to victory, smashing Marco Pantani’s 30-year-old climbing record in the process, Movistar rider Einer Rubio was also involved in a crash involving a UAE Team Emirates car, the Colombian reportedly going through the vehicle’s rear window, leading to him withdrawing from the race.
The incident involving the EF team car, witnessed by road.cc, took place on the approach to turn six of Alpe d’Huez, sandwiched between the traditionally rowdy Dutch and Norwegian corners (which now feature barriers), with just over 5km to go. The turn in question did not feature barriers.
> Why Alpe d’Huez is the Tour de France’s most iconic climb – maybe – even if it isn’t the best
As the riders towards the back of the race made their way through the hairpin, the driver of the EF team car appeared to hit a spectator dressed in a polka-dot shirt handed out by Tour sponsors E.Leclerc.
The fan fell to the ground with what seemed to be a leg injury, with the EF car driver stopping shortly after the collision to check on their condition. The spectator was then treated in the race ambulance.
When approached for comment, Tour organisers ASO said they could not provide any further information on the fan’s condition, though it is believed they escaped without suffering any serious injuries.
The crash occurred at a spot where the fans narrowed the road to catch a better glimpse of the riders, but it did not appear that the spectator encroached further into the path of the race vehicles before the collision, nor is there any indication that the driver of the EF team car was driving in a dangerous or careless manner.
There was no mention of the incident in the Tour’s daily communique, which details race incidents and fines, including those involving dangerous driving.
A spokesperson for EF Education EasyPost said the team was looking into the incident, but were unable to share any further details.
Earlier, a few hundred metres further up the road, Einer Rubio’s Tour de France was brought to a juddering halt after he crashed into the back of a UAE Team Emirates car, appearing to smash his head against the car’s rear windscreen.
The Movistar was part of the stage’s 42-man breakaway, and had just been overtaken with around 5km to go, near the scene of the later collision, by eventual stage winner Tadej Pogačar, who was followed by his team car.
However, video of the incident appears to show a fan leaning into the road, causing the driver of the UAE team car to brake, with Rubio colliding headfirst with the rear of the vehicle.
No hay derecho a ésto. Qué rabia me da por Rubio. No hay manera de compensar algo así https://t.co/UUPlFQp3ps
— Tadej Goes For Merckx (@TadejGFMerckx) July 24, 2026
His injuries were so severe that he was unable to continue racing, and he was later seen emerging from the Tour’s medical truck with a heavily bandaged face, his team later confirming that he required 20 stitches to his face
“Einer Rubio has received around 20 stitches in the face following the accident he suffered during the ascent to Alpe d’Huez. The Colombian is to be transferred to a hospital in Grenoble, where new tests will be carried out to determine the extent of the injuries,” Movistar said in a statement.
“A spectator fell forward directly into the path of the car. The car braked to avoid the collision. It was a very unfortunate incident and we wish Einer Rubio a speedy recovery,”
7 thoughts on “Tour de France fan hit by team car driver in chaotic scenes on Alpe d’Huez, as Movistar rider forced to quit race after slamming into back of UAE vehicle”
Re: the UAE car, one view I’ve heard is that the very sudden braking was done by an automatic system that relies on sensors.
The expert said the auto-braking system should be turned off when driving in a bike race.
@HarrogateSpa But the incident, according to Movistar, was caused by a spectator falling in front of the car, so if the autobrake system did stop the car presumably without it they would have run over the spectator which is also quite an undesirable outcome.
@Rendel Harris they stepped on the break, DS associate confirmed it but doesnt have to becaus ALL SENSORS ARE ALWAYS OFF.
…exactly, then the spectator might be dead!
@HarrogateSpa No and No. The expert is who, someone who drives a pro tour team car in the TdF convoy ? Just for your info, not a single driver in the caravan starts with systems on and if they did, they wouldn’t be able to go more than 10km without the car freaking out, if that. People may not have any clue who close bikes come to a moving 60kmh car ina 60kmh peloton, just to make it up to the break away and back is not possible with any system. All sensors get tapped up, reminders are given to radio tour and cars are never turned off. This is for every uci sanctionned race. When someone head is under your bumper, you are going to decide how fast you brake and the video is clear evidence.
The behaviour of some fans on Alpe d’Huez this year was just criminal. Slapping riders, shouting in their faces (complete with spit), fights over free merch, falling into the road. The atmosphere generated by the numbers and the noise is great, but how can we stop idiots going too far and ruining the race with their dangerous disrespect?
If it gets any worse there will be a fatality. Drunk idiots, motorbikes, cars and racing cyclists all in the the same narrow road space is going to cause the inevitable …
Well said. Without better crowd control, there will be a more serious incident. Then, we’ll lose the mountainside crowds altogether.