Einer Rubio’s Tour de France ended in abrupt and painful fashion on Friday when the Colombian rider crashed into the rear of a team support vehicle on the ascent of Alpe d’Huez, suffering deep facial wounds that required some 20 stitches. The stage 19 accident forced the Movistar rider to abandon the race, the second Colombian withdrawal of this edition after Fernando Gaviria’s earlier crash. While Rubio was being treated at a Grenoble hospital, Tadej Pogacar soared to a solo stage win, stamping his dominance on the general classification with just two days remaining.

The collision occurred in the closing kilometres of the mythic climb, where an estimated half a million spectators lined the route. As the UAE Team Emirates car—running ahead of Rubio—slowed to navigate the crowds, a fan attempted to cross the road, triggering a sudden stop. Rubio, descending at speed, had no time to react; he slammed face-first into the car’s rear window, shattering the glass. Video footage showed the grim aftermath, with the 28-year-old crumpled on the tarmac, blood streaming from his injuries.

Movistar Team later confirmed that Rubio had been evacuated by helicopter to the CHU Grenoble Alpes hospital, where he received between 20 and 24 stitches to his face. ‘Fortunately, there are no fractures,’ said team manager José Joaquín Rojas, who described the initial shock at seeing the rider’s bloodied visage. ‘The organization helped us attend to him immediately, clean the blood, and evacuate him. Now we await further tests.’ The incident underscored the perennial tension in Grand Tours between securing the route and managing the passions of roadside fans.

Pogacar, who had already passed the scene, was untroubled as he launched a devastating attack from the foot of Alpe d’Huez. The Slovenian covered the final 12 kilometres alone, finishing six seconds ahead of Lenny Martinez and nine ahead of Richard Carapaz, who had won the previous day. With this fifth stage victory of the 2026 Tour, Pogacar extended his overall lead over Remco Evenepoel to seven minutes and 11 seconds, pulling closer to a historic fifth maillot jaune—a feat achieved only by Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil, and Bernard Hinault.

The race now heads into Saturday’s penultimate stage, a 170.9 km queen stage that returns to Alpe d’Huez via the Col de la Fer, Galibier, and Sarenne. While Pogacar looks unassailable, Rubio’s recovery will be monitored closely by the Colombian cycling community already reeling from a second high-profile abandonment. For Movistar, the loss of a proven climber is a blow, but relief at the absence of more serious injury tempers the disappointment.