The incident at the top of the climb
During the fifth stage of the Tour de France Femmes, a high-speed collision unfolded on the Col de Durbize. With the race stretching over 160 kilometers from Mâcon to Belleville-en-Beaujolais, Swiss rider Noemi Rüegg was caught up in a chaotic moment at the climb's summit. As she neared the Queen of the Mountains point, she turned her head to her right, searching for her team leader Cédrine Kerbaol. This brief distraction proved critical.
Rüegg's moment of hesitation led to a dangerous situation. Behind her, a neutral service motorbike operated by Shimano was accelerating to overtake. Just as she attempted to return her right hand to the handlebars, the motorbike made contact with her bicycle. The collision sent Rüegg tumbling to the ground as the race surged around her.
Despite the impact, Rüegg showed composure. She managed to extend her leg and arm to cushion her fall and quickly regained control of her bike. By the time she reached the top of the climb, she was back in the saddle and appeared to have escaped serious injury.
Rüegg's return to racing
This Tour de France Femmes marked a significant moment for Rüegg. It was her first competitive appearance since suffering a severe crash at the Vuelta Femenina in May. That incident left her with a fractured scapula, forcing her to take time off from racing. Her return to the peloton was a major step in her recovery.
Rüegg's performance in the early stages of the race showed promise. She was part of an ambitious breakaway that included 19 riders. The group gained a strong lead over the peloton, but as the climb intensified, the pace dropped and the GC favorites caught up. Eventually, Demi Vollering and her lead group passed Rüegg near the top of the Col de Durbize.
Post-incident racing
After the collision, Rüegg regrouped and joined Kerbaol on the descent. The pair were part of a secondary group that also included defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Like Rüegg, Ferrand-Prévot had been dropped earlier in the stage by Vollering and the FDJ United SUEZ team. This gathering of riders illustrated the stage's unpredictability and the way the race dynamics shifted constantly.
As the race moved forward, the 160-kilometer route continued to challenge riders. Multiple groups formed and reformed, with leaders coming and going. The incident involving Rüegg stood out as one of the most dramatic events, drawing attention from spectators and media alike.
