Tadej Pogačar crashes at Tour de France before anti-Israel protester disrupts stage finish
Pogačar went down about 5 kilometres from the finish line in stage 11 after touching wheels with another rider.
He quickly remounted and the peloton eased off to allow the overall race favourite to rejoin.
Pogačar thanked the group after crossing the finish line apparently unhurt and without losing time.
"I'm quite OK, a bit beaten up, but we've been through worse days, so it's been a hectic day actually from start to finish," the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader told reporters.
"In the end, I had a little bit of a crash, and thanks to the peloton in front, they actually waited. Obviously the race was more or less over back there but, still, they could have taken time.
"Really big respect to everybody in front. Thanks for your support, guys."
Team doctor Adrian Rotunno said Pogačar had been cleared to continue the race.
"After a full examination post-stage, fortunately Tadej suffered no serious injury," Dr Rotunno said.
"No concussion or fractures. He has some general bruising, and abrasions to his left forearm and hip, but is otherwise OK."
Ireland's Ben Healy, who retained the overall leader's yellow jersey, explained he had a brief chat with two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard, seen as Pogačar's main rival for the title, and both agreed they should wait for the Slovenian.
As the stage reached its dramatic conclusion, a protester wearing a T-shirt reading "Israel out of the Tour" and waving a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf ran onto the final straight, less than 25 metres from the line.
He was swiftly tackled by a security officer as Abrahamsen edged out Swiss national champion Mauro Schmid in a two-man sprint for the win.
"I broke my collarbone four weeks ago. I cried at the hospital because I thought I wouldn't make it to the Tour de France," Abrahamsen said.
"I hoped and every day I did everything I could to come back. To stand here in the Tour de France and have won a stage is amazing."
Tour organisers declined to comment on the protest, which came amid rising tensions over Israel's military operations in Gaza.
The day began at a blistering pace, with a five-man breakaway quickly forming ahead of a second group featuring classics specialists Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.
The peloton eventually backed off, allowing the front of the race to shape the outcome.
On the punishing final climb, Abrahamsen and Schmid emerged at the front. Van der Poel launched a fierce pursuit but fell short.
The focus now shifts to stage 12, which brings the Tour's first high-mountain showdown with a summit finish on the legendary Hautacam.
All eyes will be on Pogačar the day after his crash.
Reuters
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