ASO defends Alpe d’Huez safety after Rubio crash: ‘With older cars, this would not have happened’

ASO has defended its handling of the chaotic Tour de France stage on Alpe d’Huez after Einer Rubio suffered facial injuries in a collision with a race vehicle.

The Colombian rider crashed into the rear window of a following car after the vehicle suddenly stopped to avoid a spectator who had fallen onto the road. Rubio was forced to abandon the race and reportedly required 20 stitches to his face before being taken to Grenoble for further medical checks.

The incident prompted renewed questions about crowd control on one of cycling’s most famous climbs. Thousands of supporters had gathered on Alpe d’Huez, leaving the riders to pass through a narrow corridor of spectators.

Tour route director Thierry Gouvenou acknowledged the seriousness of the crash but argued that the circumstances were difficult to anticipate.

“Perhaps every accident can be prevented at the moment it happens,” Gouvenou told Sporza. “But it is clear that modern cars now have sensors everywhere.”

According to Gouvenou, the vehicle’s safety technology reacted automatically when a spectator fell in front of the car.

“The car detected that a spectator had fallen in front of it,” he explained. “It braked abruptly and the engine switched off.”

Gouvenou then made the striking claim that the accident might not have occurred if an older vehicle had been used.

“If we had had cars that were 20 years older, the accident would not have happened,” he said.

It was a remarkable explanation from the Tour organisation. Although the vehicle may have responded exactly as its safety systems were designed to do, the emergency braking was ultimately triggered by a spectator entering the road.

Gouvenou admitted that the enormous number of spectators on Alpe d’Huez continues to concern ASO.

“It is always a little surprising to see how this enormous crowd comes together,” he said. “People prepare for this gathering months in advance.”

Alpe d’Huez attracts a level of attention that few other climbs can match. Supporters often arrive several days before the race, filling the famous hairpin bends and creating one of the most recognisable atmospheres in professional cycling.

The climb may not be more difficult than many other Alpine passes, but its place in Tour history ensures that huge crowds return whenever it appears on the route.

“Alpe d’Huez is legendary and everyone wants to be there,” Gouvenou said. “It is true that there were an incredible number of people yesterday. That still causes us some concern.”

He nevertheless stressed that most spectators behaved responsibly.

“The overwhelming majority behave reasonably well,” he said. “We see fewer spectators running next to the riders, but there is still a small percentage that spoils the party.”

Gouvenou insists that extensive precautions had already been introduced before the peloton reached Alpe d’Huez.

“We closed Alpe d’Huez at 2pm the previous day to stop more vehicles from driving up,” he said.

ASO also increased the amount of roadside infrastructure compared with previous editions of the race.

“Compared with previous years, an enormous number of additional barriers were put in place," he said. "Ropes were strung, posts were installed and more police officers were deployed on the climb.”

According to Gouvenou, the main problem was not a lack of preparation but the exceptional number of supporters who travelled to the mountain.

The question remains whether those measures were sufficient, particularly as ASO knew in advance that Alpe d’Huez would attract an enormous crowd.

One possible solution would be to place solid barriers along the entire climb. Gouvenou questioned whether that would prevent spectators from entering the road.

“We can put up barriers, but will the supporters remain behind them?” he said. “The last time we placed barriers on a final climb in the Basque Country, supporters simply climbed over them.”

For Gouvenou, the issue cannot be solved through additional infrastructure alone. He believes the behaviour of spectators remains the most important factor.

“The solution is to make it as clear as possible that supporters must respect the riders,” he said. “Restrictive measures alone will not be enough.”

Charging spectators for access to the busiest areas of Alpe d’Huez has also been suggested as a possible way to control the crowd. Gouvenou rejected that option because it would conflict with one of road cycling’s central traditions.

“That does not fit the spirit of the Tour,” he said. “It is a free sport for spectators and that is precisely the great strength of cycling.”