Tour Fans furious after Massive Crash caused by spectator wipes out peloton
The first stage of the Tour de France was thrown into chaos after a fan caused a massive crash that wiped out half of the peloton. Police hunt for female Tour de France spectator, who is on the run and faces up to a year in PRISON
After Christian Prudhomme had set the 108th edition of the biggest bike race in motion, there was a huge crash with 42 kms to go on the opening stage.
A women stood slighty in the road on the right-hand side with a cardboard sign, clipped Tony Martin, who went down hard, and took most of the peloton with him.
The moment a spectator took out the whole peloton
This is the moment a spectator took out the entire peloton ?????? #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/Lg8VRsNeXN
— Patrick Galey #BlackLivesMatter (@patrickgaley) June 26, 2021
Fortunately, all riders continued on, except for Sutterlin who abandoned the race at the time.
The internet went crazy, and the inevitable memes started flooding in.
Dozens of riders were delayed and had to spend 20 kms chasing to get back on, however the peloton slowed down.
Crash from overhead
Pour une pancarte ! Peloton complètement arrêté #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/JZvZH7O5rv
— FLAMENT Nicolas (@FLAMENTN) June 26, 2021
Jumbo-Visma riders, the most affected, saw the team post "According to the circumstances, all of our riders seem to be okay after the massive and despicable crash. Thanks for all the encouraging messages and for the peloton to slow down."
Tony Martin was seen back on his bike riding with a ripped jersey and shorts.
Police hunt for female Tour de France spectator, who is on the run and faces up to a year in PRISON
Police hunt for female Tour de France spectator, who is on the run and faces up to a year in PRISON after causing a massive crash with her placard... and organisers want to sue her after 21 riders were injured.
A female cycling fan faces up to a year in prison after causing one of the worst crashes the history of the Tour de France and then running away.
Prosecutors in Brittany, in the north of the country, on Sunday launched a criminal enquiry after the female suspect – who had not been identified and who is on the run – was filmed causing the chaos on Saturday.
It read ‘Go! Gran, Grandad,’ in a combination of French and German, and was clearly aimed at millions of viewers from around the world.
The woman, who is said to be from Germany, was looking straight at the television motorbike cameras with her back turned to the speeding riders and one – the German Tony Martin – crashed into her.
‘She was wearing glasses and dressed in blue jeans, a red and white striped sweater, and a waxed yellow jacket.’
Prosecutors meanwhile confirmed that they had opened a criminal enquiry for ‘deliberately violating safety regulations and so causing injuries that might prevent someone working for up to three months.’
This is an indictable offence in France punishable with up to a year in prison and a fine equivalent to just under £13,000.
Pierre-Yves Thouault, the deputy race director of the Tour de France, also said that organisers had filed a complaint against the woman who could now be facing legal action from the tour.