On the 15th stage of the Tour de France, a selfie-obsessed spectator’s actions led to a major crash involving several cyclists. The incident occurred when the spectator attempted to take a selfie and caused a chain reaction of collisions. The crash occurred on a narrow section of the road and resulted in the American riders falling first, with others following suit.
Spectator’s Actions and Impact
The spectator, reaching out their arm to take a selfie, made contact with one of the Jumbo-Visma team riders, causing them to lose control. This triggered a series of collisions, with riders being thrown off balance and resulting in a pile-up. Eurosport commentator Dan Lloyd described the incident as someone “stepping too far out, trying to take a picture, clipping the riders.” The consequences were likened to skittles falling down as riders tumbled.
Injuries and Resumption of the Stage
Three of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard’s teammates, including Nathan van Hooydonck, Sepp Kuss, and Dylan van Baarle, were among those involved in the crash. While the Americans fell first, other riders also suffered from the domino effect. However, all three riders involved managed to remount their bikes and continue the race. Nathan van Hooydonck spent some additional time on the ground recovering from the crash. Egan Bernal, the 2019 Tour de France champion, was also affected by the crash but was able to continue after remounting his bike.
Previous Incidents and Cautionary Measures
This incident highlights the recurring issue of spectators causing severe crashes in cycling races. In 2021, a female fan waving a banner collided with a rider during the Tour de France, leading to a stage pause and subsequent fines. Following the recent crash, teams participating in the Tour de France have called for increased caution and awareness among spectators to prevent such accidents from occurring again.
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