American cyclist Sepp Kuss came within inches of a catastrophic fall over a cliff during the Tour de France on Saturday, a moment captured on video that has left fans and fellow riders in shock.
The 2026 Tour de France nearly took a tragic turn when Kuss lost control of his bike in the mountains of France. As he skidded toward the edge of a steep drop, a wall of netting stopped his momentum, preventing what could have been a deadly plunge. The incident occurred on the penultimate day of the race, a stage already filled with high drama and aggressive racing.
Kuss, a key rider for Jumbo-Visma, crashed twice in the final kilometers, according to cycling journalist Rene Bugner. The first came in a tunnel, but the second was far more harrowing. That crash cost him the lead, with Richard Carapaz surging to the front. But the real scare was the near-miss over the cliff edge.
Thankfully, Kuss walked away from the incident without serious injury. The safety barrier, which caught his bike and body just before the precipice, was praised by fans and commentators alike. One fan wrote, “The crash could have cost him his life. Thank god for those barriers 😵💫 Scary to watch!” Another added, “The people that designed and installed that fence to be EXACTLY the right length need a raise!”
The video of the crash quickly spread across social media, with many noting how close Kuss came to disaster. One observer remarked, “Terrible for Kuss but boy is he also lucky … 2 more metres and he could have gone over the edge.” Another fan called cyclists “some of the best most courageous athletes in sports,” after seeing Kuss’s brush with death.
This near-tragedy echoes other recent incidents in the sports world, such as Kyle Shanahan's car crash and Georgia RB Dante Dowdell's ATV accident, reminding athletes and fans of the risks involved in high-speed competition.
The Tour de France concludes on Sunday with the final stage. Race organizers will likely review safety measures after this close call, but for now, the cycling world is breathing a collective sigh of relief that Kuss is safe. The American veteran, known for his climbing abilities and team support, will have a story to tell for years to come—one that could have ended in tragedy but instead serves as a testament to the importance of safety in professional cycling.
