‘I’m Going to Die’: Damien Touzé Opens Up About Life-Threatening Tour of Oman Crash

For professional cyclists, the line between a routine race day and a life-altering tragedy is often measured in millimeters. For Cofidis rider Damien Touzé, that line was a “cat’s-eye”—a compact, reflective pavement marker—that triggered a 60 kph horror crash during the 2026 Tour of Oman.

Now recovering in Belgium, the 29-year-old Frenchman has detailed a harrowing ordeal that extended far beyond the initial impact, describing a desperate battle for survival fueled by missed diagnoses and a terrifying realization that he might never return home.

The incident occurred during Stage 4 of the race. Touzé was in the middle of a common mid-race action—reaching for a bidon to grab a drink—when his bike skidded on the raised marker. The loss of control was instantaneous. He let go of the handlebars, lost his balance, and slammed into the crash barriers at 60 kph.

Bei der Tour de Oman stürzt Damien Touzé schwer. Beim Rad-Profi vom Cofidis-Team wird zunächst nur eine Becken- und Beinverletzung diagnostiziert. Doch der Franzose spürt, dass seine Situation ernster war. Er behält recht.

“Instantly, I managed to get up,” Touzé recalled. “But what was the most shocking thing of all was my leg, because my foot was twisted round next to my thigh.”

The Invisible Trauma

The immediate aftermath of the crash presented a confusing and dangerous medical landscape. Initial evaluations focused on the most visible trauma: fractures to his femur and pelvis, as well as significant ligament damage in his knee. However, as Touzé began to fade, he realized the visible injuries were not the primary threat.

Touzé described a sinking feeling of deterioration. “I had the feeling I was fading,” he told L’Equipe. “Something wasn’t right.” In a moment of stark clarity and terror, he called his partner to say, “I’m going to die. Tell our son I love him.”

The crisis was exacerbated by the limitations of the initial medical facility in Oman. Touzé noted that the hospital lacked the proper equipment and failed to perform the scans necessary to identify internal bleeding. While staff stitched his thigh, the deeper, more lethal injuries remained undetected.

As the hours passed, Touzé’s condition plummeted. His heart rate remained elevated and his fever spiked. He described the environment as bleak, stating he was placed “near the bins” with “flies everywhere,” adding that it did not feel like a place designed for recovery.

A Race Against Time

The turning point came through the persistence of a Cofidis team doctor who had remained by his side. Distrusting the initial treatment and the lack of comprehensive scans, the doctor suspected further complications and warned Touzé that he might not wake up.

A transfer to another hospital finally revealed the catastrophic internal damage: a ruptured spleen and a perforated intestine. These injuries, combined with the orthopedic trauma, necessitated two operations and a 10-day hospital stay in Oman before he was stable enough to fly back to Europe.

The physical toll of the crash and the subsequent medical struggle has been immense. By the time Touzé reached his hospital bed in Menen, Belgium, he had lost 10 kilograms in weight.

Career on Hold

For a rider who has been a professional since 2017—competing for HP BTP-Auber ’93, AG2R La Mondiale, and Cofidis—the road back to the peloton is uncertain. Touzé has confirmed that his 2026 season is over and his career is currently on hold.

While the immediate threat to his life has passed, the psychological and physical recovery remains a steep climb. “I even thought I might never make it home,” Touzé admitted, reflecting on the severity of the internal trauma and the initial failures in care.

For the global cycling community, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks inherent in high-speed racing and the critical importance of immediate, high-standard medical intervention during road events.

Key Incident Details

Damien Touzé remains under medical care in Belgium. There is currently no confirmed date for his return to training or competition.

Do you think current race safety protocols for medical scans in overseas tours are sufficient? Share your thoughts in the comments below.