During Stage 19 of the Tour de France, Movistar rider Einer Rubio suffered a severe facial injury after colliding with the rear windscreen of a car that abruptly stopped to avoid hitting a spectator.The incident occurred on the Alpe d'Huez climb, where the vehicle braked suddenly to prevent striking a fallen spectator.Rubio, who was 27th in the general classification, required 20 stitches for facial lacerations and was hospitalized in Grenoble.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG driver Joxean Fernandez apologized for the accident, explaining that he prioritized avoiding a fatal collision with the spectator over the rider's safety.

The crash has sparked debate about fan safety protocols during the race, with former champion Alberto Contador urging organizers to implement fencing on the climb.This incident follows earlier fan-related near-misses during the event, highlighting ongoing concerns about spectator-cyclist interactions.