In the 2025 Tour alone, there have been a number of serious crashes and incidents that have forced riders to withdraw.
Emilien Jeanniere abandoned during the fifth stage after fracturing a shoulder, while Joao Almeida left the race on stage nine after a crash two days earlier that involved a number of other riders.
There have been four fatalities in the race’s history.
The most recent was Italy’s Fabio Casartelli, who in 1995 crashed while descending the Col de Portet d’Aspet.
The first was in 1910, when teenager Adolphe Heliere died during the race. The cause of his death is unclear but after he slept on the beach following a stage, doctors rescued him out of the sea, though were unable to save his life.
In 1935, Francisco Cepeda died after crashing into a ravine while coming down the Col du Galibier.
Britain’s Tommy Simpson was the third racer to die during a Tour de France.
A world champion in 1965, Simpson suffered multiple crashes while riding up Mont Ventoux in hot weather.
He initially fell unconscious and was later pronounced dead at hospital.
An autopsy founded traces of amphetamines in his body, though the official cause of his death was given as a heart attack.
The 2025 Tour will go up Mont Ventoux, where a memorial remains for Simpson, on stage 16.