The final days of the 2011 Tour de France culminated in Cadel Evans' thrilling victory. Years later, when people look back, the first topic of discussion is, of course, Evans' win. The second topic? That would be the crashes. Especially in the first two weeks, this Tour de France became notorious for the large number of crashes.
Although they had the foresight to produce a SportsCenter segment, the crashes resonated more than expected among all cycling enthusiasts. Mathieu Sprick collided with a spectator like he had hit a roadside trash can, many riders slipped on wet descents, and Flecha and Hoogerland were knocked down by cars. All these incidents serve as warnings to stay safe, because we fear the same scenarios happening again or have already experienced something similar. And yet, we were genuinely surprised when many riders got up and continued riding after falling.
Craig Lewis, formerly of the now-defunct HTC-Highroad team, was nearly killed in 2004 when he was hit by a car during the Tour of Georgia. He said, “They say I always bounce back quickly from disasters. I’ve crashed plenty of times. In those situations, many would have quit the race, but I’m glad I stuck with it. If you let these challenges limit you, you’ll miss out on a lot in life.”
You might miss out on some magical moments: for example, when you’re about to crash — having trouble gauging the shoulder of an unfamiliar road — but you manage to avoid it. Like on Stage 17 of the Tour de France, during the technical descent of the Col du Paradis, yellow jersey leader Thomas Voeckler was going too fast into a sharp left turn. Instead of trying to turn, which would have sent him crashing at 40 mph into the outside wall, he spotted a gate leading to a courtyard and rode straight through it into an open area. He lost about 20 seconds of his lead, but kept his bike upright and unhurt.
We can’t teach you to do that. Voeckler’s escape was an instinctive reaction born of years of training. There’s no set of instructions that can make you do it without that training, and you couldn’t remember them in the heat of the moment anyway.
But we can offer useful advice. Here are some basics to help you avoid common situations and mistakes that can lead to crashes. Remember these techniques and practice a few key skills, and eventually, when you need them most, they’ll become your lifeline. Let us share a few tips to reduce the harm caused by crashes.
Anti-Crash Techniques: Turning Disasters into Survival — Six Causes of Crashes and How to Avoid Them
1. Wheel Overlap
How it happens: If your front wheel overlaps with the rear wheel of the rider in front of you, no matter what they do, you have less time and space to react, increasing the chance of collision. Professional cyclist Tim Johnson, who rides for cyclocrossworld.com, says, “If the rider in front moves 4 inches, the rider behind has to move 4 feet.” At Stage 9 of the Tour de France, three-time champion Alberto Contador had a wheel overlap with Vladimir Gusev of Team Katusha. Gusev accidentally bumped into Contador, causing him to fall and injure his knee — likely affecting his performance afterward.
How to avoid: Watch the peloton to anticipate when the rider in front might slow down and prepare in advance. Wheel overlaps often happen in corners, where riders slow down and enter early using momentum. If the rider in front suddenly stands up, it pushes their bike back about 6 inches, so give them enough space to avoid overlapping your front wheel.
Too late?: Lightly squeeze the rear brake, coast for a revolution or two, and don’t make sudden turns. How the rider behind you reacts depends on your line — a small bump might not make you fall. Practice absorbing shocks while seated, using flat pedals. Roger Young, an Olympic veteran now coaching track racing at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, suggests riding next to a friend and letting them gently bump your hip. Focus on using your hip muscles, not the handlebars, to maintain your line. If you try to steer with the handlebars, a bump could cause a sudden turn, but using your hips keeps the bike on your intended path.
2. Riding with Your Head Down
How it happens: In Stage 1 of the Tour de France, Astana’s Sprick was riding at the edge of the peloton. Not paying attention, he collided with a spectator, triggering a domino effect that delayed Contador and many others by over a minute. Roger Young says, “Sometimes we get too confident riding in the peloton.” This is more likely to happen when riders are fatigued or distracted, making them more vulnerable to sudden pedestrians, vehicles, dogs, or even trash cans.
How to avoid: Stay alert even on familiar roads. If you need caffeine, stop for a snack. Fatigue weakens your pedal stroke, affecting stability. Also, ensure your bike fits properly to avoid riding in an awkward position.
Too late?: Especially in the peloton, brake smoothly and ride in a straight line. Shift your weight slightly back to help keep the bike upright and the front wheel straight. If there’s an obstacle ahead, try lifting the front wheel over it. If it’s a trash can, aim to hit it with your hip first — it’s closest to your center of gravity.
3. Dangerous Corners
How it happens: Imagine this: a slippery corner covered in gravel and debris, and you’re going fast, crossing the white line at the edge of the road mid-turn.
How to avoid:
1. Keep a clear head and good judgment about speed. Treating every corner like a life-or-death decision will only make you tense and counterproductive.
2. Look as far ahead into the corner as possible. Don’t try to drift through left turns or cut corners, as you risk being hit by an oncoming vehicle. Brake and slow down before entering the corner. Entering later gives you a later apex, helping you avoid weaving between vehicles and ensuring a straight exit.
3. Don’t brake suddenly mid-corner. You need to increase tire pressure and shift your body weight to the outside of the corner while turning.
4. If the road is slippery, you should reduce the tire pressure. If your usual tire pressure is 100 psi, lower it to 90 to increase the contact area between the tires and the road.
Too late? The worst-case scenario is when you’re turning left and someone suddenly appears from the opposite direction, startling you. Keep the bike upright, ride straight to the outside of the turn, and then apologize to everyone behind you. If there are gravel patches on the road and you can’t avoid them, just ride over them. Johnson says, “Keep the bike upright and ride straight ahead, then change your line after you’ve passed the gravel.”
Four, Half a Wheel Ahead
How it happens: Imagine you’re riding in a large group or two abreast, and the rider next to you is slightly behind you. If the formation is uneven and speeds fluctuate, it can easily lead to a crash behind you.
How to avoid: Match your gear and cadence with the rider beside you, and steer clear of those who stick out in the group. Their behavior can also annoy the riders behind you.
Too late? If the rider next to you suddenly speeds up, don’t chase after them—every time you catch up, you’ll find them crawling along. Instead, control your speed, maintain the pace of the main group, and let them come back to your side.
Five, Tension While Riding
How it happens: Yang says that if your body is stiff, every movement becomes exaggerated. You can’t react quickly, and even when you do, your reactions are excessive, which can pull you into nearby riders or obstacles.
How to avoid: First, is your bike suited to you? Take this chance to go to a cycling studio and give it a try. Practicing on a fixed-gear bike without brakes with other riders will improve your spatial awareness, field of vision, and teach you how to slow down smoothly, how to stay firmly on the bike without staring at the wheels, and how to take turns leading. Most cycling studios offer basic race training courses, but you’ll need to rent a bike. Yang says, “About 85% of people riding here aren’t actually into racing—they just want to become better riders.” No races nearby? No worries—get a fixed-gear bike and practice slowing down by reducing cadence instead of using the brakes. Also, bicycle polo can help improve your bike handling skills.
Too late? Move your arms, rotate your neck and shoulders. If you’re riding in an area where braking is needed, hook your index and middle fingers around the brake levers—using only your pinky makes it hard to fully engage the brakes. Switch up your hand positions periodically to relieve fatigue.
Six, The Unknowns in a Large Group
How it happens: You—or someone else—hits a pothole or starts fishtailing on gravel. A group crash can radiate outward like ripples in a pond, starting from a small action and expanding until someone falls.
How to avoid: The safest position seems to always be at the very front of the large group. Riding in the middle of the pack means you have to keep looking ahead—not just at the rider directly in front of you. On the flip side, crashes also follow the laws of physics and tend to happen more often on the edges of the group. Riding toward the middle can help you avoid fallen riders.
Too late? When the rider at the front crashes, don’t just wait to get caught up in it. Focus on finding an escape route—go around or ride straight through. If a rider next to you goes down, keep your bike moving straight, with both pedals level and your knees and elbows slightly bent. This helps you absorb the impact better and increases your chances of riding out of the chaotic pile-up.