Both New Zealand riders were involved in a 20-man crash near the end of the 12th stage on the Tour de France overnight.

Greg Henderson first feared he had broken his elbow but will only receive stitches and remains fit enough to continue the race.

Fellow kiwi Jack Bauer, racing for Garmin-Sharp, ended up at the bottom of the pile after French rider William Bonnet cut in front of him.

"I think he was trying to avoid it and he went down. I was right on his wheel and crossed his wheel and I landed on the other side of the crash. I must of flown a bit," Bauer told bicycling.com after the stage.

"And then people just came piling on top of me. Made quite a mess of the old helmet."

The crash occurred with less than three kilometres left in the 218-kilometre stage from Fougeres to Tours in the Loire valley.

Henderson, in the Lotto-Belisol team, also ended up at the bottom of the pile.

"What a pile up wow!...Was like being at bottom of a rugby scrum," Henderson tweeted.

"Thought i broke elbow bt only stitches needed.@Lotto_Belisol boof down!"

Team Sky rider Edvald Boasson Hagen came off much worse, breaking his right shoulder blade and has dropped out of the tour.

Germany's Marcel Kittel overtook Mark Cavendish at the line to win stage, while yellow jersey holder Chris Froome avoided the crash to protect his big lead.

Henderson sits in 150th place in the overall standings, with Bauer 11 spots behind him in 161st.