As the battle for the breakaway intensified on stage 18 of the Tour de France's Col d'Aubisque, Nils Eekhoff (Team DSM) and Jack Bauer (Bike Exchange-Jayco) were the victims of two race bike crashes just a few seconds behind the peloton The two were victims of two race bike crashes by a few seconds.

The New Zealand riders were speeding through town on their way back to the peloton at the 50km mark of the decisive mountain stage to Otakam.

Up ahead, the UAE Team Emirates machine was slowing down after Ehoff almost crashed when he came into contact with a bike with poor visibility.

Further back, a motorcycle carrying the press was about to cut in beside the UAE Team Emirates machine on the left side.

Bauer was aiming for the same gap behind the two cars, but lost his way and tried to brake just in time, only to collide with the rear of the UAE car and hit the deck.

He quickly got up and did not appear to be seriously injured in the crash, and was caught on camera walking around the side of the road, arms raised in frustration. Bauer was heard saying, "Oh my God, this is my first Tour de France?" before getting back on his bike and resuming the race.

Eickhoff and Bauer were then checked out in the Tour's medical car.

UCI rules require car and motorcycle drivers to: "drive carefully to ensure the safety of riders, spectators, and other vehicles during the race." If the UCI committee determines that the drivers involved in Ehoff and Bauer's crash violated the rules of stage 18, they could face a variety of penalties ranging from fines to exclusion from the race.