Tour de France crash: Stage neutralised after ‘extraordinarily nasty moment’ involving almost all teams

Stage 14 of the Tour de France was neutralised for in excess of 20 minutes following a huge crash after just six kilometres of racing on Saturday.

“For goodness’ sake,” exclaimed Carlton Kirby on commentary.

“Just a small incremental turn but somebody got it wrong and then everybody got it very, very wrong.

“That is a huge cost to everybody – just about everybody is involved. Dreadful!”

It was a “extraordinarily nasty moment” added Kirby and one that saw organisers neutralise the race for 20 or so minutes.

Jens Voigt, in his role as roving reporter, said that all teams – bar Total Energies – were involved in the crash.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was not involved in the pile-up, while Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) reportedly managed to weave his way past felled riders.

Antonio Pedrero (Movistar Team), Louis Meintjes (Team Intermarché–Circus–Wanty) and Esteban Chaves (EF-Education EasyPost) were forced to abandon.

In an incident-packed stage, British debutant James Shaw also of EF-Education EasyPost and Romain Bardet (Team DSM) also abandoned the stage after they were involved in a crash following the first categorised climb of the day.

– – –