This year’s Tour de France started with a shock: there were two serious mass falls on the first stage. A carom was triggered by a spectator.
The 108th edition of the Tour de France has started in France. Right on the first stage there was a moment of shock: there was a mass fall on the way from Brest to Landerneau. The collision was triggered by a thoughtless spectator.
The woman had positioned herself around 45 kilometers from the finish line with a cardboard sign on the edge of the route to cheer on the drivers. But she didn’t make sure that her shield was sticking out onto the street. Tony Martin, German driver for the Jumbo Visma team, stumbled and fell. Dozens of drivers behind him could no longer avoid them.
Tour de France: German driver has to give up
For at least one of the cyclists, this fall meant the end of the tour on the first day of the Tour of France. The German professional Jasha Sütterlin (DSM) could no longer drive. Tony Martin injured his arm slightly, but was able to complete the 198-kilometer stage. A few kilometers from the finish there was even another fall with around 50 people involved, but this time through no fault of the spectators – the reason was a collision in the field of drivers, which again triggered a chain reaction.
Frenchman Allaphilippe takes stage victory
World champion Julian Allaphilippe, who was also involved in the first fall, crossed the finish line first with bleeding legs – and thus ensured a French victory on the first stage.
At the Tour de France, spectators are allowed on the edge of the track despite the corona pandemic. The individual departments decide on limits. However, access is limited in the start and finish area. Only fans with proof of vaccination or a negative corona test are allowed there. A total of 21 stages will be completed, with the Tour de France traditionally ending in Paris on July 18.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
