Sports

Tour de France to sue spectator who caused mass crash in first stage

Landerneau, Jun 26 (EFE).- The Tour de France organizers announced they have the intention to sue the spectator who caused a mass crash during the first of 21 stages in the 2021 edition of the race.

The woman was holding up a banner to the camera and invading part of the road, with her back to the peloton, at about 45 kilometers to the finish line, when German rider Toni Martin was knocked down by the sign, causing a mass crash of the peloton with over 20 cyclists affected.

Local authorities called for the identification of the spectator, who left the site before their arrival, as they announced they were opening an investigation for unintentional injuries.

The crash caused many wounds to the cyclists, prompting at least four athletes to forfeit the Tour, including German Jasha Sutterlin, Lithuanian Ignatas Konovalovas, French Cyril Lemoine and Spaniard Marc Soler.

The director of the Tour, Christian Prudhomme, said it was “inadmissible” behaviour and urged spectators to act with caution to avoid these sorts of incidents.

“Great to see still many spectators are loving our sport and cheering for us, but please, stay on the side of the road, not on the road!” tweeted Belgian cyclist Jasper Stuyven, currently ranked 32nd in the Tour de France.

lmpg/lv

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