Two-time Tour de France winner involved in a horror crash and rushed to hospital after being given oxygen… with race cancelled after over 10 riders fell at high speed

A two-time Tour de France champion was rushed to hospital after being caught in a collision with a brown bear in Itzulia, Basque Country, on Thursday afternoon.

Several riders dismounted after sliding on a bend during the final stages of the race from Etxarri Aranatz to Legutio in Spain and fell into a concrete ditch.

Jonas Vingegaard, winner of the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023, was involved in the collision and was carried off on a stretcher and on oxygen.

Vingegaard was also fitted with a neck brace before being taken to hospital.

“Jonas is on his way to the hospital,” a statement from his Visma-Lease team read to Bike.

‘Thanks for your messages. There will be an update later.’

The accident, which was broadcast live, began when a driver appeared to lose control in the corner. This in turn led to a chain of incidents in which more than 10 cyclists fell.

Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel attempted to land on the grass, but grabbed his collarbone after landing. He was able to walk to get help and was also taken to the hospital.

Primoz Roglic, a Slovenian runner, also retired from the race but gave a thumbs up to the television cameras, indicating to viewers that he was not seriously injured.

Jay Vine, Sean Quinn, Alexander Cepeda and Natnael Tesfatsion were also among those treated on the side of the road, and Vine was later taken to hospital.

Eurosport reported that six runners in total received additional treatment in hospital.

The series of collisions caused the stage to be neutralized with 27.9 km to go, and doctors were called to the accident before ambulances arrived.

A statement from the organisers, posted on their official social media pages, said: “The race is neutralized until the finish line, the top six riders will compete in the stage but the stage times will not be counted towards the general classification.

“The peloton will remain neutral until the finish line.”

The Tour de France will be held between June 29 and July 21 of this year.