American cyclist Sepp Kuss narrowly avoided a serious accident during the penultimate stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, after coming close to riding off the edge of a mountain descent. The incident highlights the inherent dangers cyclists face when racing at high speed on narrow, exposed mountain roads, and comes at a pivotal point in the race as the Tour nears its conclusion.

According to the report, Kuss was saved from plunging over the edge by a safety catch fence positioned at the roadside, which prevented what could have been a horrific fall. Full details of how the near-miss unfolded were limited in the available report, though it underscores the continued importance of course safety measures on the Tour's most treacherous stages.