“Unnecessary” huge crash causes Tour de France Femmes chaos
Nearly half the peloton piled up in the Tour’s longest stage
![Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (SDWorx) receives treatment from her team after crashing on stage five of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/37LWtvwbw4zDWDc8EX3diT-415-80.jpg)
It’s not unusual to see cuts and road rash at the finish of a race, but Chantal van den Broek-Blaak’s right arm was a right mess after stage five of the Tour de France Femmes.
As she emerged from the SD Worx team bus and into the shade of the riverside trees to chat with her team manager, she was sporting a number of open gashes on her right forearm, clearly from contact with a chainring. There were two large swellings above and below.
“I’m fine, I don’t have any pain, but it’s open,” she told Cycling Weekly.
The former world champion was one of many riders taken down in a huge crash with 42 of the 175.6km remaining. On a long, straight and wide road there was no apparent reason for the massive pile-up, which took out upwards of 50 riders and left a huge heap where riders where indistinguishable from their bikes.
Once untangled from the mess, TV coverage showed Van den Broek-Blaak receiving treatment for her wounds, with blood streaming down her right wrist.
“I just rode in over the girls and I think a few girls fell on top of me,” the Dutch rider said. “Demi and Marlen [Vollering and Reusser, SD Worx teammates] were saying it happened next to them and it was a bag of food, so it’s just the concentration. It was a long, straight road and with stages like this when it’s 175km and flat you know you cannot concentrate for four-and-a-half hours, so it can happen.”
Other riders reported the cause was a dropped bidon, and with the bunch so tightly packed any dropped bottles are likely to cause a catastrophic incident.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The only abandon at the time of the incident was Danish Movistar rider Emma Norsgaard. The team reported on Twitter that she suffered injuries to her head, cervical vertebrae and left shoulder. She has been taken to hospital.
In addition, the post-race report from organisers ASO showed 15 other riders suffered injuries amounting to skin abrasions and trauma, so it would be no surprise if others abandon overnight.
“I don’t know what happened,” said Olivia Baril (Valcar Travel and Service), who was one of those who crashed. “I was talking with Silvia [Persico, teammate] and everything was fine, I was taking a gel and then everyone crashed so it was a bit weird.
“I knew that 50 per cent of the bunch was on the ground so on the front they were going to wait, so it wasn’t too hard to come back but it’s just bothers the mood a little bit because it was unnecessary, in the middle of a big flat road and nothing to fight for.”
The race has suffered an unusually high number of crashes in its opening five days, with many issues being blamed. They range from concentration to a lack of experience among some in the bunch.
What is sure though is that the men’s race is notorious for its first week crashes, so it is just as likely to be the intensity of racing causing extra risks.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Owen Rogers is an experienced journalist, covering professional cycling and specialising in women's road racing. He has followed races such as the Women's Tour and Giro d'Italia Donne, live-tweeting from Women's WorldTour events as well as providing race reports, interviews, analysis and news stories. He has also worked for race teams, to provide post race reports and communications.
-
Paris 2024 Olympics time trials: Everything you need to know
Information about the course, timings, favourites, startlists and TV channels for the individual time trials
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Kask finally reveals the secrets behind aero ears with new Nirvarna helmet
The new helmet has been used by Ineos since January, but now it's available to the public
By Joe Baker Published
-
Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift to extend to nine stages in 2025
The fourth edition of the race will begin in Brittany
By Adam Becket Published
-
WorldTour teams cite Brexit and race uncertainty as reasons for skipping Tour of Britain Women
Only four of 15 Women's WorldTour teams set to take start line in Welshpool next month
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We found out on social media' - British team Lifeplus-Wahoo on their Tour de France Femmes invite snub
There will be no British squads at the race for the first time in its history
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Lotte Kopecky to miss Tour de France Femmes with Olympics the main goal
World Champion set to ride Tour of Britain Women and Giro d'Italia Donne before Paris games
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'First I focus on the Classics': Lotte Kopecky unsure of Tour de France Femmes participation in Olympic year
Belgian aiming to peak in April with Paris-Roubaix a potential target
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Opinion: Is the 2024 Tour de France too hard?
With so much packed into the route, is it too rich a meal?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Demi Vollering and Jonas Vingegaard crowned as best riders in the world for 2023 at Vélo d'Or awards
Mathieu van der Poel and Lotte Kopecky named as best Classics riders at French awards ceremony
By Adam Becket Published
-
How to watch Giro di Lombardia: Live stream the 2023 edition
A Giro di Lombardia live stream is the best way to keep up with this year's race. Here's how to watch in 2023.
By Cycling Weekly Published