“I completely shat my pants... I saw myself hitting the ground!” – Tadej Pogacar narrowly avoids disaster after hitting loose bottle at Tour de France
CyclingWednesday, 15 July 2026 at 18:25
Tadej Pogacar narrowly avoided crashing during Stage 11 of the 2026 Tour de France after riding over a loose bottle at high speed on the road to Nevers.
The yellow jersey struck the bottle with his front wheel but kept his handlebars straight and remained upright. He eventually finished safely inside the peloton, retaining his 3:36 advantage over Jonas Vingegaard.
“I completely shat my pants there,” Pogacar admitted to official Tour de France media. “I already saw myself hitting the ground!”
The incident came during the fastest stage in Tour history, with the peloton covering the 161.3 kilometres from Vichy to Nevers at an average speed of approximately 50.9km/h.
Loose bottle almost brings Pogacar down
Pogacar started Stage 11 only 24 hours after winning in Le Lioran and extending his commanding advantage in the general classification. With the sprinters’ teams controlling the race, UAE Team Emirates – XRG were able to remain around their leader without assuming their usual position at the front of the peloton.
“It was a really fast stage,” Pogacar said. “Not an easy one, but at least it was short! The day was all about staying safe, and there was this moment in which I ran over a loose bottle with my front wheel and almost crashed. Luckily, I managed to keep my handlebars upright… so all good in the end. It’s nice to have days like this, but you still have to keep your focus throughout the stage.”
The incident did not cause a crash or split in the peloton, allowing Pogacar to complete the stage on the same time as winner Soren Waerenskjold.
Breakaway chase produces record speed
Waerenskjold won in 3:10:06 after launching a long sprint and holding off Olav Kooij in Nevers. The resulting average of approximately 50.9km/h surpassed the previous Tour record established when Mario Cipollini won Stage 4 in 1999 at approximately 50.36km/h.
A relatively flat route and slight tailwind contributed to the speed, while Julian Alaphilippe, Nelson Oliveira, Anthon Charmig and Mathis Le Berre forced the sprinters’ teams to sustain the chase throughout the stage.
“People are starting to believe they can win this kind of stage from the breakaway, and it’s indeed possible,” Pogacar said. “Some very strong riders go in the break, and that’s why we go faster during the stage: because the sprinters’ teams need to catch them! We also had tailwinds today, and that obviously helps a lot.”
The final three escapees were caught with six kilometres remaining before Waerenskjold won the sprint. Pogacar crossed the line in the main group and completed his 61st day in the Tour de France yellow jersey.
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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- When Froome won 3 in a row and "only" came in 3rd in his 4th, he was similarly just a hint less than his usual self. Maybe Vingegaard did the Giro at a time when he still had the drive to do it. It sure feels like there's a good reason he needs time as a sane human being, away from the sport and with his family. It's similar to what Pogačar says after big wins, "first, recovery and some time away." I respect that mindset immensely.RidesHills15-07-2026
- I'm pretty convinced that they're on something, as well, but what they're on is legal. Bonkers levels of sugar during races. Altitude training. Weird natural drinks to help with recovery. Their own riders say that it's nothing different from any other team (and Pogačar is a genetic freak).RidesHills15-07-2026
- Wow. Can't you do this somewhere else, guys?Hills3315-07-2026
- Matteo has been sick, Visma say.Hills3315-07-2026
- no for me it's because he's effeminate which is also the reason why his fans, like you, love himwhkman15-07-2026
- Probably because girls sounds more woke and girly, less masculine and macho and so a bit « denigrating « in the eyes of male readers. Aside it being a bad, pointless suggestion it is also quite ironic seeing as it’s way more physical and violent than e.g baseball and that it also isn’t immune to doping. Or maybe it was actually a case of trying to encourage how do they call it, affirmative action?Mistermaumau15-07-2026
- Pogi is a ROCK... Pogi is the KING!!! Now go to a secluded place and cry... cry your heart out.mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales15-07-2026
- So why do you hate Pogi, because he's from Slovenia?mus-musculuspeedypogigonzales15-07-2026
- Can you make an effort to try to understand people who don’t think and react like you, they help kerp the world a more interesting place. Why does having suspicions of doping (hardly conspiracy theory crazy stuff) or critcism of any aspects have to equate with not liking a sport? Can you not accept people enjoy sports for MANY different reasons but not all? Why is it so many people jump to illogical or irrelevant conclusions to attack people saying things they don’t like?Mistermaumau15-07-2026
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