“Complaining about his back and barely able to pedal” – Kevin Vauquelin feared for INEOS star Dorian Godon after “frightening” Tour de France crash
CyclingFriday, 17 July 2026 at 11:00
Kevin Vauquelin was left fearing for Dorian Godon after his Netcompany INEOS teammate struggled to pedal away from the mass crash that disrupted the final few hundred metres of the stage 12 sprint at the 2026 Tour de France.
Godon was brought down inside the final 300 metres in Chalon-sur-Saone after another rider fell directly in front of him. He eventually remounted and crossed the finish, but was immediately taken for examinations after complaining of significant pain in his back.
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme initially suggested that Godon had suffered a concussion and rib trauma.
Netcompany INEOS later ruled out concussion, confirming skin abrasions and muscular back pain while placing the Frenchman under continued observation.
“I could immediately tell Dorian was in a bad way”
Vauquelin had been working for Godon during a stage expected to end with a conventional bunch sprint. The crash unfolded so quickly that the Frenchman was initially unsure how the incident had begun.
“It was a sprint, so there must have been contact somewhere around 300 metres to go. I’m not completely sure,” Vauquelin told Eurosport after the finish. “But I could immediately tell that Dorian was in a bad way. He is complaining a lot about his back, so he is going to have some examinations.”
Godon managed to complete the stage, but his difficulty turning the pedals left Vauquelin deeply concerned. The two French riders are not only teammates, with Vauquelin describing Godon as a friend whom he had been supporting towards the sprint.
“It is still shocking at the speed we are travelling,” he said. “I also ride for Dorian, and he is a friend. So when you see him like that, complaining about his back and barely able to pedal, it is frightening.”
Godon has 5 World Tour wins since joining INEOS at the start of 2026
Stage 12 crash ends two riders’ Tours
Godon was one of several riders caught in the incident as the peloton accelerated towards the finish in Chalon-sur-Saone. The crash ended the Tour de France campaigns of Fernando Gaviria and Jenno Berckmoes, who both sustained fractured collarbones. A number of other riders were assessed after reaching the finish, with the high-speed fall leaving teams waiting for medical updates long after the sprint had been completed.
Netcompany INEOS later clarified that Godon had been unable to take avoiding action once the rider ahead of him fell. “Dorian Godon crashed unavoidably, in the sprint of stage 12, after a rider fell in front of him,” the team said.
The incident denied Godon another opportunity in a season in which he has become one of the British team’s most consistent sources of victories. His strength on demanding terrain and finishing speed had again made him Netcompany INEOS’s designated rider for the stage 12 finale, with Vauquelin assigned to help position him before the crash.
INEOS medical checks find no concussion
Prudhomme’s initial update on France Television’s Vélo Club programme raised fears of a potentially serious head injury. The team’s subsequent examinations produced a more positive diagnosis.
“He has sustained skin abrasions and muscular back pain,” Netcompany INEOS confirmed. “Initial assessment by the Tour de France race doctor and subsequently our team doctor confirms no evidence of concussion.”
Godon will nevertheless be examined at least twice daily under the UCI’s concussion guidance. The protocol requires continued monitoring because symptoms can emerge after the first assessment, even when initial checks have found no evidence of concussion.
The team did not immediately confirm whether Godon would start stage 13. His muscular back pain and overnight response to the crash will be assessed before Netcompany INEOS makes a final decision on his continuation in the race.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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