Tour de France Femmes: Emma Norsgaard quits race after shocking 30-woman crash

Danish rider Emma Norsgaard was forced to abandon the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift after a major crash during the fifth stage.

Team DSM’s Lorena Wiebes was the winner of the 175 kilometre stage, beating Elisa Balsamo and Marianne Vos in a sprint finish.

It was Wiebes’s second stage victory at the Tour de France Femmes, with the Dutch star triumphing at the first stage in Paris.

“I don’t like to say I’m the best sprinter in the world, but if you’re saying it… I felt today again strong in the sprint, I’m happy to deliver it after a long stage,” Wiebes said.

“It’s still a goal to get the green jersey and also to keep the general classification with Juliette [Labous], she’s also riding really strong. Today was really a team effort and that’s the most important.”

The drama came earlier on in the race, however, roughly 45 km away from the finish line. A crash on the front right peloton caused a mass pile-up of around 30 riders.

With so many riders and their bikes on the ground, it took almost three minutes for the main group to get going again.

Daar gaat half het peloton #TDFF pic.twitter.com/druz0X9Rip

Norsgaard, who races for Movistar, was among those caught up in the crash. She was able to stand after the collision, but was taken away in an ambulance with a suspected broken collarbone.

The 23-year-old was forced to abandon the Tour de France Femmes as a result of her injury.

Chantal van den Broek-Blaak was also treated after suffering a bloody elbow. She was set back by around a minute, but later caught up with the main group.

Norsgaard’s injury will be of detriment to teammate Annemiek van Vleuten, who was favourite to win the Tour de France Femmes but currently sits in eighth position.