Vincenzo Nibali Forced Out of Tour de France After Fan Interference
Former champion Vincenzo Nibali was forced out of the 2018 Tour de France on Thursday after fracturing his back in a collision during a drama-packed Stage 12, his Bahrain team doctor confirmed.
The Italian, who claimed his sole yellow jersey in 2014, was transported to the hospital with a suspected vertebrae fracture after coming down hard around 4K from the summit finish on Alpe d’Huez.
Early reports, later backed by Nibali, claimed he had collided with a police motorcycle. However, a video that emerged hours after the finish suggested a bag strap, flag, or arm got in his way as he rode through a throng of hyper-excited fans.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme demanded fans show more respect after the Nibali crash, which occurred the same day Team Sky got booed off the podium due to the months-long doping controversy surrounding star rider Chris Froome. He also called for an end to the use of rocket flares, which shroud racers in colorful smoke and may have contributed to Nibali’s crash.
“Rocket flares don’t belong in bike races,” Prudhomme said. “They make the riders breathe in noxious air, and they blind them… The riders of the Tour, the champions of this race, need to be respected.”
Nibali later confirmed his departure from the Tour on Twitter.
“I've returned to the hotel but unfortunately the outcome of the medical report isn't good,” he said. “They confirmed I've fractured one of the verterbrae, so tomorrow [Friday] I head home to begin my recovery.”
Despite being helped back on his bike and valiantly finishing only 13 seconds behind stage winner Geraint Thomas, the crash ended Nibali's bid to stay in contention on the race. He leaves after climbing to fourth overall at 2:37 behind Thomas.
"I was feeling good, I really believed in my chances,” he said. “It’s a pity. But these kinds of things can happen when there’s a lot of people on the road.”
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