THE ROADSIDE FAN who caused a giant crash at the Tour de France on Saturday is to be sued by the organisers.
The woman concerned held up a banner slightly into the road and was looking straight at the television motorbike cameras with her back turned on the speeding peloton.
German rider Tony Martin brushed past her and was knocked off balance racing near the head of the peloton, and when he fell it caused a horrifying domino effect ending in a tangle of bikes and bodies.
DSM’s German rider Jasha Sutterlin was the only one who had to pull out at that moment but several people were hurt, including spectators.
“We are suing this woman who behaved so badly,” Tour deputy director Pierre-Yves Thouault told AFP.
“We are doing this so that the tiny minority of people who do this don’t spoil the show for everyone,” he said.
Strike 🎳 #TourDeFrance2021 pic.twitter.com/MplcdcvKbN
— Matteo Tedesco (@matteoted) June 26, 2021
Italian champion Sonny Colbrelli and Dutch rider Wout van Aert, who ran over Martin before falling head over heels, had both been amongst the favourites to win the first stage hilltop finish but were both badly delayed.
Two Ineos riders Richie Porte and Tao Geoghegan Hart both lost time, while champion Tadej Pogacar saw his right hand man Marc Hirschi badly hurt.
According to regional newspaper Ouest France the woman who was wearing a yellow jacket fled the scene and has yet to be found.
It’s a sign of the times we live in .
That person with the sign should be arrested for assault
@thomas walsh: Assault?
@Thomas O’ Donnell: they hit the rider with a sign causing injuries. That’s assault
@thomas walsh: bit dramatic. From the footage I saw, woman holding sign (stagnant and made of cardboard) and looking the opposite direction, into which the rider cycled.
@Kevin Norris: she was at a bike race and caused a crash…because of her being a spanner…fair play to tour of france..people should be accounable for their actions….
@Kevin Norris: you left out the bit where she was on the road and the only path for the rider was straight ahead.
@Kevin Norris: she was completely reckless and only thinking of herself. People were injured because of her selfishness. She should pay the price
@Kevin Bury: i was commenting on whether I would describe it as assault or not.
@Dave O Keeffe: again – assault?
@thomas walsh: again – assault?
@Kevin Bury: don’t know much about French law but what could charge her with?
Assault Battery Negligence or what?
@Kevin Bury: don’t know much about French law but what could you charge her with?
Assault Battery Negligence or what?
@Kevin Norris: yes assault here in irelamd anyway
a person shall be guilty of the offence of assault who, without lawful excuse, intentionally or recklessly—
(a) directly or indirectly applies force to or causes an impact on the body of another, or
Reckless would cover it
@Kevin Norris: yes did I stutter? Assault. Where people not injured? Did she cause these injuries? That my friend is assault
@thomas walsh: sorry but the video is quite clear. She was standing on the road and the cyclist crashed into her? Cyclist should have avoided her
@seanieP: sure that’s so ambiguous it could mean that the woman involved could sue the cyclist, standing on a public road, if they want to sue then the roads should be closed to the public.
@guineon: ah come on now. There was a race she was well aware of happening and shouldn’t be in the road. It’s her recklessness.
Would you apply the same logic if someone popped out in front of usain bolt with a sign on the track mid pelt and he ran into them. Bolts fault I guess….. he should have just hurdled her.
@Mark Sheehan: what’s ambiguous? The definition of assault?
Was the the cause of impact intentional or reckless by the cyclist ? I never made comment on whether someone should be sued. I chimed in over a debate on assault.
@Mark Sheehan: also do all public roads need to be physically closed off to pedestrians.
Regardless of a race or not should people be standing in them wether or not they are ‘public’? The m50 is a public road sure go stand on that with a sign. Might try and sue the motorist if survive.
@thomas walsh: typical social media two babies having a fight lol
@guineon: how, the only path he could take was straight ahead as seen by the fact that when he went a few inches to the left he collided with other cyclists. Other cyclists that were meant to be there i might add.
Sue her for the millions she has…..some chance
Whatever the sign said it should be tattooed on her forehead
@Anthony Doyle: it’s says “Go Grandma and Grandpa”