Full Breakdown
Road-Rage Collision Involving American Rider Brandon McNulty Before Tour de France Stage 16
7/22/2026, 1:51:46 AM
Core Event
On July 21, American cyclist Brandon McNulty – a 28-year-old member of UAE Team Emirates XRG and a teammate of race leader Tadej Pogacar – was knocked off his bike by a motorist on a public road en route to the start of the individual time trial for Stage 16 of the Tour de France. The driver, described by the team as a member of the public with no official connection to the race, overtook McNulty, stopped abruptly, and the rider collided with the vehicle. Medical staff examined McNulty and found no serious injury; he was cleared to start the 26.1-kilometre time trial as scheduled.
Background & Context
Stage 16 marks the first individual time trial of the final week of the 2026 Tour de France, taking place in the Evian-les-Bains/Thonon-les-Bains area on the Swiss border. McNulty, who entered the race as a former U.S. time-trial champion, had been serving as a key domestique for Pogacar, who held a five-minute lead over his nearest challenger. The incident occurred amid heightened security and traffic control measures typical for Grand Tour stages, but the driver was identified as a private individual rather than race personnel.
Timeline
- July 21 – Road-rage collision involving McNulty reported by multiple outlets.
- July 21 (later that day) – Team doctor clears McNulty; he starts the Stage 16 time trial as one of the final 20 riders.
- July 26 (scheduled) – The Tour de France concludes in Paris.
Data & Statistics
- Age: 28 years.
- Overall standing after 16 stages: 18th place.
- Stage 16 distance: 26.1 km individual time trial.
- Start order: McNulty rode 19th overall, beginning at approximately 16:40 CEST; race leader Pogacar started last at 17:15 CEST.
Official Statements & Responses
Gianetti added that the team was awaiting confirmation from the doctor before the rider’s start but later confirmed that McNulty was cleared to compete. No official comment was issued by local authorities regarding the driver’s identity or any potential traffic-law repercussions.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Nothing so big, but it was not nice,” — Mauro Gianetti, emirates-xrg team principal
- “He was just coming to the start with the bike. One car was a little bit upset behind him; we don't know why, and then he overpassed Brandon, and he stopped the car. Unfortunately, of course, Brandon, he crashed on the car,” — Mauro Gianetti, emirates-xrg team principal
- “He was just coming to the start with a bike and one car was a little bit upset behind him, we don’t know why.” — Mauro Gianetti, emirates-xrg team principal
What’s Next
The Tour de France will continue through the final week of competition, with the overall race slated to finish in Paris on July 26. McNulty’s participation in the remaining stages will depend on his recovery and the team’s tactical plans as they support Pogacar’s bid for overall victory.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise location of the incident: Espn and NBC Sports cite Thonon-les-Bains, while Reuters reports Evian-les-Bains. No further details have been released about the driver’s identity, motive, or any legal follow-up, leaving a gap in the public record regarding accountability for the road-rage episode.
