A female spectator who caused a major crash on the first stage of the Tour de France faces up to one year in prison.
The first day of the competition was thrown into chaos only minutes after it started when the fan’s placard hit a rider who couldn’t avoid the sign.
Jumbo Visla cyclist Tony Martin crashed into the woman’s outstretched arm and placard, which shows ‘Come one grandad-granny.’
The crash sent Martin and his bicycle tumbling to the ground, eventually leaving at least 20 riders with injuries.
Once the dust from the chaos had settled, the female spectator was nowhere to be seen.
Prosecutors are now seeking the woman as part of a criminal inquiry into the incident for “deliberately violating safety regulations and so causing injuries that might prevent someone working for up to three months.”
This is an indictable offense punishable with up to one year in prison.
Martin managed to go back to the race but with grazes and cuts evident on his legs and arm.
Another cyclist who went down during the chaos was Chris Froome.
Speaking from his hospital bed, he said: “In a split-second there were 50 or 60 of us all on the ground. I guess that’s bike racing.
“I’m hoping I can still start tomorrow but at the moment I can’t put any pressure on my left leg and it’s not looking great.”
A spokesperson for the Finistere Gendarmerie said: “The spectator who caused this accident left the scene before the arrival of the investigators.
“Everything is being done to try and find her. She was wearing glasses and dressed in blue jeans, a red and white striped sweater, and a waxed yellow jacket.”
Crazy crash at Tour De France 2021 🇫🇷
A fan who was holding a message to her grandparents & grinning for the cameras took out most of the peloton with a cardboard sign 🚴♀️ 🚴♂️ 🚴 #TDF2021 pic.twitter.com/OEZmiSjBE9
ADVERTISEMENT — Nigel D'Souza (@Nigel__DSouza) June 26, 2021
The crash occurred near the summit of the Saint-Rivoal hill in the town of Saint-Cadou.
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