João Almeida Abandons Tour de France After High-Speed Crash

João Almeida, a key domestique for Tadej Pogačar and a top contender with multiple recent victories in 2025, was forced to abandon the Tour de France after sustaining a fractured rib and multiple abrasions in a high-speed crash during stage seven. Despite attempting to continue racing through stage eight and part of stage nine, his injuries, including a badly injured hand impacting his ability to brake and handle the bike, made it impossible for him to support his team further. The crash also forced Jack Haig and Eddie Dunbar to withdraw, with Haig suffering a concussion, highlighting the severity of the incident. Pogačar expressed concern about Almeida's condition, acknowledging the difficulty of racing with broken ribs and the importance of his teammate's recovery for the defense of the yellow jersey. Almeida himself emphasized that health takes priority, stating he would not continue if he could not contribute effectively to the team. The incident marks a significant challenge to UAE Team Emirates-XRG as they face aggressive competition from rivals like Team Visma-Lease a Bike in the remaining stages.