Tadej Pogacar’s Tour de France 2025 Scare: How is the Slovenian star doing after fatal crash?

Stage 11 of the Tour de France 2025 will be remembered not just for Jonas Abrahamsen’s maiden stage victory, but for a dramatic crash involving defending champion Tadej Pogacar just 5 kilometers from the finish line. As the Slovenian rider was pushing through the final stretch, his wheel touched another rider’s, sending him crashing to the tarmac with roughly 3.5 miles to go.

The tension was palpable. Race leader Ben Healy and key rivals, including Jonas Vingegaard, slowed down the pace in an act of sportsmanship, allowing Pogacar time to recover and rejoin the peloton.

A grateful champion speaks out

Despite the frightening fall, Pogacar showed remarkable composure and grit. He quickly remounted his bike, caught up with the main group, and crossed the finish line just 3:28 behind the stage leaders. Most importantly, he did not lose time in the general classification.

“I’m quite okay, a bit beaten up, but we’ve been through worse days,” said Tadej Pogacar after the stage. “In the end, I had a little bit of a crash, and thanks to the peloton in front, they actually waited... Really big respect to everybody in front. Thanks for your support, guys.”

This moment of camaraderie among competitors was a reminder of the deep-rooted respect in professional cycling — even when a yellow jersey is on the line.

The race that had everything

The day’s intensity wasn’t limited to Tadej Pogacar’s crash. As the stage reached its climax, a protester disrupted the final sprint, running onto the course just 50 meters from the finish while waving a Palestinian keffiyeh. He was swiftly tackled by security, but the incident added to an already chaotic finish.

Meanwhile, Jonas Abrahamsen, who only weeks earlier had feared missing the Tour due to a broken collarbone, edged out Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid in a thrilling sprint finish. “To stand here in the Tour de France and have won a stage is amazing,” an emotional Abrahamsen said after the win.

What’s Next for Tadej Pogacar?

With no major injuries reported, Tadej Pogacar remains very much in contention for his fourth Tour title. He trails race leader Ben Healy by just 29 seconds and is expected to be a key contender in Stage 12’s grueling mountain showdown on Hautacam.

All eyes will now be on how the Slovenian star responds in the high-altitude drama — a test of both physical endurance and mental resilience after a bruising day.