Brandon McNulty unhurt after pre-trial driver confrontation
Brandon McNulty was knocked off his bike by a civilian car before Stage 16 of the Tour de France but was largely unhurt, according to team reports. The UAE Team Emirates XRG rider hit a vehicle after a driver overtook him and suddenly stopped on open public roads near Évian-les-Bains, team principal Mauro Gianetti said.
The incident happened Tuesday as the American returned toward the start of the day's individual time trial, a 26-kilometer course beginning in Évian-les-Bains. McNulty had been reconning the route when the confrontation unfolded on roads still open to traffic.
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Key Takeaways
- Brandon McNulty collided with a civilian car after a driver overtook him and stopped abruptly before Stage 16.
- UAE Team Emirates XRG principal Mauro Gianetti said the vehicle was a normal public car, not identified by the team.
- Team doctors later told broadcaster TNT that any injuries were “nothing big,” matching reports he was unhurt.
- McNulty sat 19th overall after 15 stages and was due to start the time trial at 16:40 CET.
What happened to Brandon McNulty before the time trial?
According to ESPN and The Athletic, McNulty was riding with one car behind him when the motorist overtook and stopped. Gianetti said Brandon could not avoid riding into the car and was knocked off his bike.
“He was just riding his bike with one car behind him. A normal car, we don’t know who they are,” Gianetti told The Athletic. “And when he (the car driver) overtook, he just stopped the car, and Brandon was unable to prevent himself riding into it.”
The collision occurred away from closed race roads, underscoring how exposed riders remain during pre-stage recons on public streets.
Was Brandon McNulty hurt enough to miss Stage 16?
Immediately after the crash, Gianetti said he was still waiting on medical confirmation and hoped McNulty could start. He later told TNT that the team doctor described the injuries as “nothing big.”
ESPN reported McNulty was unhurt after the pre-trial driver confrontation. He remained scheduled to roll down the ramp at 16:40 CET for the Stage 16 time trial.
Why does this Tour de France confrontation matter?
McNulty, riding for UAE Team Emirates XRG, was 19th in the general classification after 15 stages. A last-minute crash before a time trial can scramble preparation even when physical harm is limited.
The episode also raises a familiar safety question for major races: how riders share open roads with civilian traffic during course recons. Gianetti framed the car as a member of the public, with no further identification released in initial reports.
As Stage 16 unfolded, attention stayed on whether McNulty could deliver a clean ride after the abrupt stop that put him on the pavement—and on how such roadside confrontations are handled when the Tour’s calendar leaves little room to recover.