Tadej Pogačar Breaks Alpe d'Huez Record as Einer Rubio Suffers Violent Crash

During the ascent of Alpe d’Huez at the Tour de France, Movistar Team rider Einer Rubio suffered a severe crash after colliding with a race vehicle that braked abruptly to avoid spectators crowding the road. Rubio sustained deep facial lacerations requiring approximately 20 stitches and was rushed to a hospital in Grenoble, according to team communications.

The Alpe d’Huez Ascent and Spectator Overcrowding

The iconic 21-hairpin climb up Alpe d’Huez delivered a mix of historic athletic achievement and chaotic roadside conditions. While UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogačar attacked 11 kilometers from the finish line to complete the ascent in 35 minutes and 24 seconds—surpassing Marco Pantani’s long-standing benchmark from the previous century by one minute and 14 seconds—the overwhelming crowds lining the slopes created hazardous bottlenecks for the peloton.

According to race reports, the immense density of fans spilling onto the tarmac forced race and team vehicles to check their speed rapidly. As Rubio navigated the final major climb of the stage while riding in the day’s breakaway group, a preceding vehicle from the UAE Team Emirates support fleet jammed on its brakes to prevent striking spectators packed tightly into the road shoulders.

Impact and Immediate Medical Response

Unable to stop in time, Rubio struck the rear of the vehicle head-first in a high-impact collision. The force of the crash ended his stage prematurely and required immediate on-site medical intervention before emergency personnel transferred him out of the mountains.

Movistar Team issued an official update detailing the severity of the rider’s injuries. “Einer Rubio received around 20 stitches in the face after the accident he suffered on the climb to Alpe d’Huez,” the team stated.

Impact on Rubio’s Second Tour de France Campaign

Before the accident, the Colombian climber sat 37th in the general classification. He had actively animated several breakages throughout the three-week grand tour, marking his second career appearance at the event following a 31st-place finish overall the previous year.