The Swiss, returning after the fracture to her scapula suffered at the Vuelta Femenina, was hit by a motorbike of the neutral service on the Col de Durbize, but managed to get up and continue without serious injuries.
In the midst of the most explosive stage yet at the Tour de France Femmes , the fifth stage from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais offered scenes of pure chaos: groups disintegrated, athletes scattered, and even vehicles caught up in the unexpected events along the 160km route. At the center of the day's most curious episode was Noemi Rüegg , the former Swiss champion, who was literally hit and knocked off by a Shimano neutral service bike.
Rüegg was part of an initial breakaway of 19 athletes, but was gradually dropped by the stronger climbers, caught by the peloton and finally overtaken by the small group of general favourites, led by Demi Vollering , just near the summit of the Col de Durbize.
Television footage clearly shows the fateful sequence: as she approached the mountain finish line (QOM) at the top of the climb, Rüegg glanced over her right shoulder, presumably searching for her captain Cédrine Kerbaol , who was also falling behind the Dutchman's blistering pace. At that precise moment, as she put her right hand back on the handlebars, her bike veered slightly to the left, intercepting the neutral Shimano bike that was coming up from behind to overtake her.
The collision was inevitable: Rüegg's bike fell to the ground, but the Swiss rider displayed excellent reflexes, managing to extend an arm and a leg to break the fall. Fortunately, she was back on her bike almost immediately, even before reaching the top of the climb, and appears to have suffered no significant physical consequences.
Shortly after the crash, Rüegg was spotted descending alongside her captain, Kerbaol, in a small group that also included reigning champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot , who also fell behind the frenetic pace set by Vollering and her FDJ-SUEZ team. This detail could prove useful for those following team dynamics from a fantasy cycling perspective: if Ferrand-Prévot is already struggling at this stage of the race, she might not be the safest choice for the overall lead in the upcoming mountain stages.
It's worth noting that this Tour de France Femmes marks Rüegg's return to racing after the serious injury she suffered at the Vuelta Femenina in May, when a nasty fall fractured her scapula. Despite today's scare, her return appears to be going well, with the rider demonstrating quick reflexes and good physical condition in handling the unexpected.
Sports journalist and cycling enthusiast, following professional cycling for over 10 years. Collaborates with FantaCycling to bring you the best analysis and news from the world of cycling.
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