A woman with a cardboard sign brings down the majority of the Tour de France driver field. Four professionals have to end the race early. The organizer now wants to turn on the judiciary – but the viewer has disappeared.
After the heavy mass fall on the first stage of the Tour de France, the organizing agency Aso has announced that it will sue the spectator responsible for the collision. This is reported by the French daily “Ouest-France”, citing a statement by the tour director Christian Prudhomme. Prudhomme is quoted as saying that the Aso has filed a complaint against the woman. Whether and to what extent the woman can be prosecuted for the incident remained unclear – especially since the perpetrator left after the incident and has since disappeared, as it was said.
The deputy race director Pierre-Yves Thouault later confirmed to the AFP news agency that he wanted to turn on the judiciary. “We do this so that the small minority doesn’t spoil the show for the rest of the world.”
Sütterlin has to give up tour after a mass fall
On the first stage of the tour, the stranger had stood a good 46 kilometers from the finish with a large cardboard sign too close to the route, as could be seen on TV pictures. Because the sign read “Allez Opi Omi”, the French media quickly speculated that the woman might be German. However, there was initially no reliable knowledge of this. According to a report by “L’Équipe”, the local police are looking for the woman. Possible witnesses were also asked for help.
For the time trial specialist Tony Martin, the obstacle jutting out onto the road came too suddenly: while driving at full speed, the Cottbus driver crashed into the sign, stumbled and fell to the ground – just like many other dozen drivers who could no longer evade. “Some spectators simply don’t have any respect and don’t even turn their heads on”, Martin grumbled after the stage.
While he was able to continue the race with blood-streaked arms and will probably be able to tackle today’s stage, the German Jasha Sütterlin had to end the Tour de France due to serious injuries. Sütterlin suffered a severe bruise on his right wrist in the fall, which required further medical examinations, his team said.
“I hope grandma and grandpa are proud of you”
With the ad, the Aso spoke from the hearts of several drivers. “The Deppin should be reported in my opinion. That is simply not possible, on purpose or not,” said the Berlin professional Simon Geschke the “Cyclingmagazine”. At the end of the stage – there was another mass crash shortly before the finish line – three other drivers besides Sütterlin had to give up the race.
“I hope Grandma and Grandpa are proud of you,” tweeted Belgian professional cyclist Jasper Stuyven shortly after reaching the finish line with a sarcastic undertone. In his post he also attached a photo taken a few moments before the mass fall. “But seriously: It’s nice to see that many spectators still love our sport and cheer us on, but please stop at the roadside, not on the street!” He said.
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