Alex Molenaar will not start stage 6 of the Tour de France 2026 after suffering a fractured right hand in his crash on the run-in to Pau.
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA confirmed the news after medical checks following stage 5 revealed a fracture to the first metacarpal in his right hand. The Dutch rider also suffered several contusions after hitting the ground heavily shortly before the final 5km banner.
Molenaar was able to finish the stage despite his injuries, but the fracture makes it impossible for him to continue in the Tour. His withdrawal is the first abandon for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA in this year’s race.
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Thomas MaheuxWhat happened to Alex Molenaar?
Molenaar crashed during the final section of stage 5, which finished in Pau and was won by Olav Kooij in a reduced sprint.
According to his team, Molenaar went down shortly before the final 5km banner and landed heavily, with particular damage to the left side of his body. He completed the stage, but post-race examinations in Pau confirmed the hand fracture and ended his Tour.
The crash came on a nervous finale into Pau, where the sprint and late splits shaped the stage result. Our Tour de France 2026 stage 5 report covers the wider race situation from the day.
A blow to Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
Molenaar’s withdrawal is a significant setback for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA.
The 26-year-old had been one of the team’s most visible riders in the opening week and had already made an impact in the mountains classification. He wore the polka-dot jersey during Tuesday’s stage and remained second in that competition after stage 5, behind Alex Baudin.
For a wildcard team, that kind of presence matters. Molenaar had given Caja Rural-Seguros RGA a clear early storyline, with breakaway ambition, mountain points and time in one of the Tour’s classification jerseys.
Instead, his race ends just before one of the stages that looked best suited to his early Tour approach.
What does it mean for the mountains classification?
Molenaar’s exit removes one of the early polka-dot jersey contenders from the race.
Alex Baudin leads the mountains classification after stage 5, with Molenaar second before his withdrawal. Stage 6 was due to be a major opportunity for the climbers, with the Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and the final climb to Gavarnie-Gèdre all offering chances to reshape the competition.
Molenaar would have been expected to target that stage from the breakaway, particularly given his position in the standings. His absence now opens more room for Baudin, Nicolas Prodhomme, Raul Garcia Pierna and other riders looking to move into the polka-dot jersey fight.
Our GC and jerseys after Tour de France 2026 stage 5 round-up has the classification picture after Pau, while our Tour de France 2026 climbers guide explains why the Tourmalet stage could be the first serious turning point in the mountains competition.
A promising Tour debut cut short
Molenaar had been enjoying a strong first Tour de France before the crash.
For a rider from a team outside the biggest WorldTour structures, the opening week had already delivered visibility, mountain points and a classification jersey. That is exactly the kind of impact Caja Rural-Seguros RGA would have wanted from him in the first part of the race.
His team wished him a swift recovery and said they hoped to see him back at full strength as soon as possible in future races.
The timing is especially frustrating. Stage 6 takes the race from Pau to Gavarnie-Gèdre over the Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet, making it one of the clearest early chances for climbing breakaways. Molenaar had already shown he was willing to chase the mountain points needed to stay relevant in the polka-dot jersey contest.
Tour de France 2026 abandons
Molenaar becomes the latest rider forced out of the Tour during a demanding opening week.
Kelland O’Brien had already left the race after finishing outside the time limit on stage 4. Molenaar’s withdrawal is different, coming through injury rather than the time cut, but it adds to the attrition before the Tour has even completed its first Pyrenean block. Arnaud de Lie struggled through before deciding to leave the race as well.
The race now heads into the Tourmalet stage without one of the early mountains classification protagonists. For Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, the focus shifts from building around Molenaar’s strong opening week to reshaping their breakaway plans without one of their most active riders.
