Edoardo Affini, a key support rider for Visma | Lease a Bike and part of Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour de France squad, crashed heavily during the Italian National Time Trial on June 25, 2026. The incident occurred just six kilometres into his effort on a rolling course in the Langhe region, casting significant doubt on his ability to start cycling’s biggest event in early July.

The crash occurred on a descent from Briaglia to Bastia Mondovì. Affini was reported to have been in pain but conscious when he was taken to hospital by ambulance. Although early reports suggested he avoided broken bones, his condition remains uncertain, and his participation in the Tour de France is now very much in question.

Affini’s role as a domestique means he plays a critical part in protecting team leaders on flat stages and controlling the race. Losing him would be a serious blow to Visma | Lease a Bike's strategic setup for the Tour. With just weeks remaining until the Grand Départ, the timing of this incident raises logistical and tactical concerns for the squad.

This crash highlights the unpredictable nature of time trials, where riders are pushing maximum effort and even a small error or technical issue can lead to major consequences. It also underlines the broader challenges teams face managing injuries and finalizing rosters ahead of grand tours.

Affini’s condition will be closely monitored in the coming days. The team and medical staff must quickly assess whether he can recover in time or whether Visma | Lease a Bike will need to prepare an alternate plan. As the Tour de France approaches, the outcome of this crash may have significant implications for the team’s chances.