The Frenchman, who was 12th overall, fell at kilometer 25 on the descent of the Col de Saxel, the first difficulty of this terribly difficult 14th stage between Annemasse and Morzine.

First lying down all his length, the leader of the DSM team, was able to get up. But, visibly stunned, he had to resolve to leave the Grande Boucle for the second time in ten participations.

It is a blow for the Auvergne climber, second in the Tour in 2016 and third the following year, who aspired to approach the podium again this year. But he fell ill after the start of the Tour and never managed to weigh on the race that he abandoned on Saturday with death in his soul.

Bardet was the fifth rider to throw in the towel on Saturday after Britain's James Shaw (EF Education), who fell on the same descent, and three others who failed to recover from a massive crash shortly after the start.

After barely five kilometers of racing, dozens of runners went to the ground in a long right-hand curve on a wet road, some ending up in the grass on the lower side with bib shorts and jersey completely torn.

The American rider of the Movistar Matteo Jorgenson (L), the Norwegian of the Uno-X team Jonas Abrahamsen (C) and the Costa Rican of the EF Education - Easypost team Andrey Amador wait while the 14th stage of the Tour de France is neutralized shortly after the start due to a massive fall between Annemasse and Morzine Les Portes du Soleil, in the Alps on July 15, 2023 © Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

South African Louis Meintjes was one of the most affected. The South African leader of the Intermarché team, who was 13th overall, had to retire because of a broken collarbone, his team confirmed.

Spaniard Antonio Pedrero (Movistar) was also evacuated on a stretcher.

As for the Colombian champion Esteban Chaves (EF-Education), he tried to leave. But, too touched, he resigned himself to abandonment a few minutes later.

Others took to the road again but wearing stigmata, like the Frenchman Adrien Petit, teammate of Meintjes, who got back in the saddle with great difficulty and a huge bandage on the right calf.

The neutralized race

The management of the Tour had neutralized the race, the time that the injured riders could be evacuated by ambulance. The peloton was immobilized for about 25 minutes before starting for a second time.

UAE team's Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar waits as the 14th stage of the Tour de France is neutralized shortly after the start due to a massive crash between Annemasse and Morzine Les Portes du Soleil, in the Alps on July 15, 2023 © Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

Among the leaders, third overall Jai Hindley was involved but returned to the road without damage, according to his Bora team, as were two yellow jersey teammates Jonas Vingegaard, Dutchmen Nathan van Hooydonck and Wilco Kelderman.

This 14th stage marks the entry into the Alps and the beginning of an of passes to decide between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, the two great favorites for the final victory, separated by only nine seconds in the general classification.

On Saturday, five listed climbs were on the program, including three first category and one out of category: the Col de Joux Plane (11.6 km at 8.5%) which will stand last on the road of the day before a technical descent to Morzine.

Who will get the upper hand up there? The Dane Vingegaard keeps repeating that long climbs at high altitude are the ones that suit him best, reinforced by his experience last year in the sublime stage of Granon where he cracked Pogacar, before winning his first Tour.

But his rival vowed that he would not be taken back. The double winner in 2020 and 2021, who excels in a more explosive register, ensures to have progressed in the long climbs, considered one of his weak points.

By Wednesday evening, the riders will be stuck fifteen climbs listed, including eight in the first category and two out of category.

© 2023 AFP