Tour de France 2021 – Tour de France drop lawsuit threat against spectator who caused crash

ByEurosport

Published 01/07/2021 at 13:42 GMT

"We are withdrawing our complaint. This story has been blown out of proportion but we wish to remind everyone of the safety rules on the race," Tour director Christian Prudhomme said. You can watch the Tour de France live and ad-free on the Eurosport app and Eurosport.co.uk. Download the Eurosport app for iOS and Android now.

Tour de France organisers have dropped charges against the supporter who caused a huge crash during the opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday.

Nearly all of the peloton was wiped out on Stage 1 when Tony Martin (Jumbo-Visma) collided with a sign held by the fan, sparking a mass pile-up.

TV replays showed the fan grinning into the camera and holding a sign which read "ALLEZ OPI-OMI!" – which roughly translates as "COME ON GRANDDAD-GRANNY".

Tour de France

Vingegaard lacks the confidence to attack Pogacar - Blythe

16/07/2023 at 18:15

Race organisers threatened legal action and the fan turned themselves into police custody on Wednesday.

The woman, 30, was held by Landerneau police overnight and was facing a fine.

But Tour organisers have today dropped the charges in an attempt to deescalate the situation.

"We are withdrawing our complaint. This story has been blown out of proportion but we wish to remind everyone of the safety rules on the race," Tour director Christian Prudhomme said.

"If you come to the Tour, you hold your kid, you hold your pet and don't cross the road carelessly. And above all, you respect the riders - they're the ones worthy of live TV."

The Tour peloton held a protest about rider safety on Tuesday after a string of crashes marred the opening three days of the race.

‘I have no sympathy’ – Wiggins on fan who caused huge Stage 1 crash

Eurosport's Bradley Wiggins was critical of the fan, but acknowledged that spectator influence on the racing is an inevitable element of the sport.

"This is nothing new, it’s been happening for years and years," Wiggins said.

"And they are part of the race; the spectators are part of the race and part of the spectacle as well. It’s what makes this sport so beautiful."

- - -

You can watch the Tour de France live and ad-free on the Eurosport app and Eurosport.co.uk. Download the Eurosport app for iOS and Android now. You can also watch the most comprehensive live & ad-free racing on GCN+. Go deeper and get interactive with live polls & quizzes, plus rider profiles, race updates, results & more – plus stream exclusive cycling documentaries.

Tour de France

Poels wins maiden Grand Tour stage as Vingegaard fends off Pogacar to sustain GC lead

16/07/2023 at 18:09

Tour de France

Fan causes huge crash that sends riders ‘down like skittles’

16/07/2023 at 13:58

Cycling

'Keep watching me' - Bradley Wiggins' son Ben says he wants to 'win everything' in cycling

17/11/2022 at 10:59