Joxean Fernández, team manger of the UAE Team Emirates-XRG, has explained his part in the incident which saw Movistar rider Einar Rubio injured during Friday’s Alpe d’Huez stage of the Tour de France.
Rubio was forced out of the Tour with just two stages remaining, after hitting the back of one of the UAE team cars, close to the top of the final climb during stage 19. The Colombian had been part of the day’s breakaway and was among the leading riders on the road as the race entered its final kilometres.
He had just been passed by eventual winner, Tadej Pogačar when the incident happened, the UAE team car braking hard to a halt, Rubio hitting it so hard he broke the rear window with his head. The team car then immediately drove off, leaving the stricken rider alone with only members of the crowd for help.
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Rubio suffered multiple injuries to his face, requiring 20 stitches, but was discharged from hospital late on Friday evening. Some of the videos of the incident which have emerged on social media clearly show a fan falling in front of the car, and had Fernández not braked as he did, it appears likely they could have driven over the fan. However, some have criticised the driver for not stopping to help Rubio.
“Today, I feel the need to explain what happened from my position inside the car during yesterday’s stage,” Fernández wrote in a post in his instagram account posted on Saturday morning.
“In the final kilometers of the Alpe d’Huez climb, with thousands of fans right next to the road and the immense pressure typical of a decisive Tour stage, a spectator suddenly ran out and fell right beneath our vehicle. My only reaction was to brake immediately to avoid running him over. It all happened in a split second, and my only thought was preventing a far worse tragedy.
“After braking, we heard a loud impact behind us, but amidst the noise, the tension, the crowd, and the responsibility of continuing to protect the race leader, I didn’t learn the full extent of the accident, or that Einer had to withdraw from the Tour, until we reached the finish line. I immediately contacted the Movistar Team, its directors, riders, and staff to check on the situation and ask what had happened.
“Those of us involved in cycling know that in such extreme situations, decisions are made in fractions of a second and always with the aim of protecting human life.
“I deeply regret the consequences of this accident. If the decisions I made in that moment ended up affecting a rider in the peloton, I can only say that it pains me deeply. At the same time, I believe it is important to remember that the safety of riders, teams, and fans also depends on the responsible behavior of those who enjoy this sport from the roadside.
“I offer all my support and affection to Einer; I am deeply sorry for what happened and sincerely hope to see you back competing where you belong very soon. This has not been, and is not, an easy day for me, and I needed to share this with you.”
Despite the consequences of the incident, Fernández was not sanctioned by the race commissaires in the post race Bulletin and he continued in the team car on Saturday’s 20th stage, which also finishes at Alpe d’Huez, though by a different route.
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