The Tour de France has been rocked by a high-speed, mass-pileup in the final 350 meters of stage 12 in Chalon-sur-Saône, resulting in multiple riders forced to abandon the race due to injury. Among those confirmed as non-starters for stage 13 are Caja Rural-Seguros RGA sprinter Fernando Gaviria and Lotto-Intermarché’s Jenno Berckmoes, both of whom sustained broken collarbones in the incident.
The crash occurred as the peloton sprinted toward the finish line. According to reports, the incident began when Vlad van Mechelen (Bahrain Victorious) deviated from his line, causing contact that led to the fall. While the race results for stage 12 were neutralized for the main bunch under the 5km rule—meaning general classification contenders like Tadej Pogačar were not penalized with time losses—the physical toll on the sprinters and their teammates was severe.
Medical Fallout and Abandonments
The medical consequences of the crash were confirmed by team officials following the stage. Caja Rural-Seguros RGA reported that Fernando Gaviria suffered a fracture to his left collarbone after hitting the tarmac hard. The 31-year-old was seen after the finish line cradling his shoulder, clearly in significant pain. Lotto-Intermarché also confirmed the departure of Jenno Berckmoes, who sustained a broken collarbone during the same sprint collision. His teammate, Liam Slock, was also caught in the pileup.
Status of Other Involved Riders
Several other riders were caught in the chaos, though their statuses remain subject to ongoing medical monitoring. Netcompany Ineos rider Dorian Godon, who was involved in the initial fall, was seen struggling with muscular back pain and skin abrasions. The Uno-X Mobility team saw three of its riders—Søren Wærenskjold, Jonas Abrahamsen, and Anthon Charmig—brought down in the final kilometer. While initial examinations did not identify injuries requiring X-rays, the team continues to observe them for potential concussion symptoms. Picnic PostNL’s Pavel Bittner was also caught in the crash, though initial assessments suggested he remained okay.
Race Officials and Disciplinary Action
The high-speed incident, which significantly thinned the lead group to approximately 15 riders, allowed Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) to claim victory. Following an investigation into the cause of the pileup, race officials issued a disciplinary ruling against Vlad van Mechelen.
Van Mechelen was penalized for deviation from the chosen line that endangers other riders.
His punishment includes:
* A fine of 500 CHF.
* A deduction of 18 points in the points classification.
* Relegation to the last place in his group.
* A yellow card.
The Technical Finish
The stage 12 finale in Chalon-sur-Saône had been described as highly technical, featuring multiple corners, roundabouts, and road furniture, which contributed to a tense sprint. The final 500 meters featured an uphill drag toward the line and several kinks in the road. While speed bumps were present on the approach, official reports indicated they did not appear to be the primary cause of the incident.
As the race moves toward stage 13, teams continue to evaluate the long-term impact of the injuries sustained in the crash. For those remaining in the peloton, the focus shifts to recovery, though the medical staff across multiple teams continue to monitor riders for the uncomfortable tail
of crash-related injuries, including bruising and lingering pain.
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