A Tour De France spectator could soon be facing legal consequences, after her cardboard sign caused a spectacular crash on the first stage of the race.
While ‘Le Tour’ is renowned for giving fans the opportunity to get up close with the riders, one fan took it too far when she clipped rider Tony Martin with the sign.
Martin took a tumble with a host of other riders also falling, causing a mass pile-up.
Première étape du Tour de France, premier crash, premier partisan à blâmer pic.twitter.com/6i3yhBtwv7
— Julien Lamoureux (@julienlamoureux) June 26, 2021
While France has recently lifted almost all of its coronavirus restrictions, organisers are now warning spectators to be careful, after it appeared the person holding the sign in questions was attempting to get on TV.
“For the Tour to be a success, respect the safety of the riders! Don’t risk everything for a photo or to get on television,” the organisers said in a Twitter post.
⚠ We're glad to have the public on the side of the road on the #TDF2021.
But for the Tour to be a success, respect the safety of the riders!
Don't risk everything for a photo or to get on television! pic.twitter.com/eA6nnhRhWv
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) June 26, 2021
But it appears the trouble is not over for the controversial spectator, after the race organisers filed a lawsuit against her.
“We are suing this woman who behaved so badly,” Race deputy director Pierre-Yves Thouault told AFP.
“We are going to repeat our calls for fans to behave time and again, through the police on the side of the road and our social network,” Thouault added.
“Most of the fans are peaceful but I want to stress that [when] you come see the Tour, you don’t take selfies, you keep your kids close to you.”
