21
2
A Tour de France spectator who caused a massive crash on stage 1 could be facing legal action from the race organisers.
Race deputy director Pierre-Yves Thouault told AFP, "We are suing this woman who behaved so badly.
"We are doing this so that the tiny minority of people who do this don't spoil the show for everyone."
The incident came with 45km to go as the peloton was in pursuit of lone breakaway rider Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe). Jumbo-Visma was leading the peloton with Tony Martin second wheel on the right-hand side of the road.
A spectator holding a large sign that said 'Allez Opi-Omi' (a German term of endearment for grandparents) had their back to the peloton with the sign sticking out into the road at handlebar height. Martin had nowhere to go, with more fans and a deep culvert on the side of the narrow road and hit the sign.