Einer Rubio Suffers Serious Facial Injuries After Crashing Into Team Car at Tour de France

Movistar rider Einer Rubio has withdrawn from the 2026 Tour de France after suffering serious facial injuries during Stage 19 on Alpe d’Huez, following a high-speed collision with a UAE Team Emirates-XRG support vehicle.

The dramatic incident unfolded just a few kilometres from the summit finish, where race leader Tadej Pogačar went on to win the stage.

Spectator Triggers Sudden Stop

According to UAE Team Emirates-XRG, a spectator suddenly fell into the path of one of the team’s support cars during the climb.

The driver immediately slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the fan. Rubio, who was riding closely behind at speed, had no time to react and crashed headfirst into the rear of the stationary vehicle.

Video of the incident quickly spread across social media, with many cycling fans raising fresh concerns about crowd safety during the Tour de France.

Rubio Suffers Facial Injuries

Medical staff treated Rubio at the scene before transporting him to a hospital in Grenoble for further evaluation.

Movistar later confirmed that the Colombian rider required around 20 stitches to treat multiple facial wounds. Fortunately, scans showed no fractures, and he was later discharged from the hospital.

Despite avoiding broken bones, Rubio was forced to abandon the race because of his injuries.

Safety Concerns Return

The crash has renewed debate over spectator behaviour on mountain stages, where thousands of fans line the roads and often stand dangerously close to riders.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG described the incident as an unfortunate accident and wished Rubio a speedy recovery, while many riders and fans called for stricter crowd control measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Video coverage of this incident is available on the BuzzinOnlineNews Instagram page (@buzzinonlinenews).