Jacob Fuglsang had just finished third overall in the Tour de Suisse and was optimistic that he could contribute to the race as the leader of the Israeli Premier Tech team, which is aiming for a stage win in the 2022 Tour de France. However, a crash on stage 15 means that the 37-year-old will likely either retire before the Pyrenees or continue racing with a broken rib.

Fuglsang crashed with 65 kilometers to go, taking down a number of riders, including Steven Kruijswijk. A rider from Jumbo Visma was forced to retire, and Tour leader Jonas Vingegaard lost one more key support rider. The rider from Israel Premier Tech was the last to rejoin the race, but finished the stage in 141st place.

"Jacob Fuglsang, who crashed on stage 15 of the Tour de France, was X-rayed at the finish and found to have a fractured right rib.

The medical team, along with Fuglsang, decided Monday that the best course of action was to have the rider return home to begin his recovery as soon as possible.

"Of course, we are disappointed. I've raced before with broken ribs and fought to the end. But this time, even if I try my best, I won't win, so it's better to retire and go home to recover," Fuglsang said in a team statement on his rest day.

"It's too hard to keep running like this. I hope the team continues to do a good job. We have some difficult stages coming up, but I want to keep fighting until the end and get another stage win."

Israel Premier Tech had the team in perfect shape until the start of stage 15, when stage 5 winner Simon Clark tested positive for COVID-19 and had to pull out.

Fuglsang's best result to date was sixth in Mende on stage 14. It was the Danish rider's 11th Tour de France, and he has been on the stage podium many times and finished seventh in GC in 2013, but he has yet to win a stage in the French Grand Tour.

Fuglsang will enter the Tour as team leader, and Canadian Michael Woods is another strong contender, but the team, working to avoid relegation from the World Tour, has made it clear from the start that it will make the most of whatever opportunities come its way on the roster.

The team has been on the podium three times so far in this year's race, with Clark, who joined the team in late 2022, winning on the cobbles and Chris Froome taking a satisfying third place on the summit of the Alpe d'Huez.