American cyclist Sepp Kuss narrowly escaped a potentially fatal fall during a Tour de France stage on Saturday, sliding into safety netting along a cliff edge. The incident occurred on the descent from the Col de Sarenne toward Alpe d'Huez as Kuss, 31, attempted a solo stage win.
The misjudged right-hand bend sent Kuss toward the roadside barrier, which he struck at speed before being thrown towards the precipice. Strategically placed safety netting prevented him from plunging over the side, catching him mere inches from the drop.
This harrowing moment followed an earlier crash Kuss experienced inside a dark, wet tunnel just kilometers before, while he was leading the stage. Despite the close calls, Kuss was able to remount his bicycle, albeit with a bloodied leg and elbow, to finish the demanding mountain stage.
"It was a bit scary, sorry to my wife and my family watching at home! That's racing," Kuss stated after the stage. "I’m happy with the fight and the performance, and it was a big day out. I was so on the limit, I misjudged the corner a bit. First in the tunnel, and then after that I was still trying to make up too much time."
Commentators and cycling analysts lauded the race organizers, ASO, for installing the safety netting on the high-risk corner. TNT Sports analyst Matt Stephens remarked that the barrier "might have saved his life," emphasizing the perilous nature of the drop.
Kuss had broken away from Olympic champion Richard Carapaz, but his hopes for a stage victory were dashed by the two falls. Carapaz capitalized on Kuss's second crash to take the stage win, with Remco Evenepoel securing second place. Kuss ultimately crossed the finish line in third place, 31 seconds behind Carapaz.
