Movistar confirmed that Einer Rubio abandoned the Tour de France during Friday’s Stage 19 finish on Alpe d’Huez, after a collision with a UAE Team Emirates-XRG car. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), who finished fifth on the stage, told TV 2 that he witnessed the incident on the final climb.
“I saw Rubio from Movistar go into the UAE car. It didn’t look good at all,” Johannessen said. “I wonder if he smashed the window with his face. I hope he is OK.”
Movistar’s initial confirmation stated only that its 28-year-old Colombian rider had withdrawn from the race – some press images showed him bloodied but conscious after the collision. The team did not disclose Rubio’s condition or provide its own account of the incident. “Einer Rubio has abandoned the race during the climb to Alpe d'Huez. We will provide further details as soon as possible.”
A video posted by Ondřej Bursa on the side of the road where the incident happened showed that the UAE car had to slam on the brakes due to fans in the road. Rubio was unable to react in time and crashed into the back of the team car, smashing the rear window. Bursa added the caption “I get it, the emotions are real, but some fans are the cancer of sports.”
A crowded finish on Alpe d’Huez
There had been a lot of apprehensive build-up to the ascent of the famed Alpe d’Huez climb with huge crowds expected on the 21 hairpin bends. According to unconfirmed figures, French authorities have estimated 600,000 people were on the mountain for the race. Various moments saw riders being disrupted or blocked due to the size of the crowds encroaching onto the road.
The collision took place in a particularly congested part of the course. Spectators packed the roadside of the 14km long climb with riders and race vehicles struggling to pass through. The scene for Rubio’s crash was no different as spectators spilled onto the road. The UAE car slammed on the brakes in an attempt not to hit the spectators causing Rubio to slam into the back of the team car, breaking the back window. The team car had to drive on and deal with the incident later as they had their rider going up the road.
Johannessen described the crowds as “completely insane” after finishing. Television commentators also raised concerns about the level of control along the climb. And, unfortunately, it does appear that spectators were a large reason as to why the collision happened.
Rubio had spent much of the 127.9km stage from Gap in a large breakaway. As that group split before and during the final ascent, he remained among the riders pursuing the leaders alongside Johannessen.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) caught the remaining escapees and won at Alpe d’Huez in 3:17:57, taking his fifth stage victory of the 2026 Tour. He also broke the climb’s 30-year-old record by more than a minute.
Lenny Martinez finished second, with Richard Carapaz taking third. Johannessen crossed the line fifth, 2:07 behind Pogačar, placing him close to the front of the race when he said he witnessed Rubio hit the UAE vehicle.
Further information from Movistar on Rubio’s condition or the circumstances of the reported incident will be posted by the team either Friday evening or into Saturday.
Cover image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
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