"Senseless violence... We were all in shock" - Decathlon's key domestique out of action after a training hit-and-run accident
CyclingWednesday, 29 July 2026 at 06:00
The main focus of Decathlon CMA CGM in July has been on the Tour de France where their starlet Paul Seixas made a promising debut by finishing 4th overall. For the rest of the French team, the past month has been mainly about training, but even that is often far from "simple" as Stan Dewulf has learned the hard way.
During a training ride with his Decathlon teammates in the Les Arcs ski area last week, things went wrong all of sudden when a campervan driver made a dangerous maneuver whilst passing the small group, causing Dewulf to crash. The consequences for the 28-year-old Belgian were immediate: a fractured elbow.
"There was absolutely nothing wrong, until a van decided to overtake us on a straight stretch of road," Dewulf tells his story to Het Nieuwsblad. "The driver turned right again much too quickly, straight into our group."
Pierre Gautherat, who was riding in the lead, had to swerve suddenly. Léo Bisiaux then braked, causing Dewulf to tap a rear wheel and fall to the ground. Examination revealed that he sustained a minor fracture in the radial head of his left arm.
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Not an accident
The worst part is that despite being the primary cause of their accident, the driver kept on driving as if nothing had happened. Even though Dewulf is absolutely positive that he must've been aware of the situation he has created.
"That driver must have seen in his mirror what he had caused, but instead of stopping, he just drove on. We were all in shock."
The Belgian does not rule out the possibility that it was a deliberate act. "It felt like a form of senseless violence. There was absolutely no reason for it. We hadn't encountered that van before. It really came out of nowhere."
Calls for justice
A teammate managed to sprint after the vehicle following the crash and took a photo of the license plate to help pursue charges. The other riders from the training group also want to testify.
"I hope we can build a strong case," said Dewulf. "I want to do everything in my power to get justice."
"It is the first time I have been sidelined in such an unfair way," he says. "I need some time to process this. After that, we will look at what the best plan is for my recovery."
Thus far, Dewulf completed 36 race days in the 2026 season which could be considered his breakthrough thanks to a 4th place at E3 Saxo Classic and 2nd in the queen stage of 4 Jours de Dunkerque which allowed Dewulf to finish 4th overall.
For the second half of 2026, Dewulf was preparing to play a key role at the Renewi Tour whilst in the wider nomination for Vuelta a Espana alongside Léo Bisiaux. To wrap up the year, Dewulf would ride a block of one-day races and possibly return to the Tour of Guangxi. Participation at the gravel World Championships is also on the cards.
However the focus shifts to recovery now. Dewulf will spend a week off bike before a further check-up will decide the next steps to treat his injury and whether surgery is required.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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