The opening stages of the Tour de France have been a whirlwind.
The opening day saw a fan cause a pileup, injuring several riders.
There were enough crashes in the following days that cyclists on Tuesday protested the hazardous conditions.
On Wednesday, the woman who caused Saturday’s first spill was arrested.
It’s been a lot.
The opening stage on Saturday sawtwo crashes cause over 21 injuries.
A chaotic pileup ensued, and one of the damaged cyclists was force to leave the tour altogether.
“It’s been years that we are talking about [safety], we need to find solutions.
It’s not bike racing anymore.
One day there will be dead people.”
After days at large, the woman wasarrested by French authorities on Wednesday.
How did the crash happen?
The pileup happened on Saturday, the opening day of the Tour de France.
Day 1 had the athletes cycling from Brest to Landerneau, a 123-mile (198 kilometer) course.
Midway through the race, however, disaster struck.
Her back was to the cyclists, and as such didn’t notice their rapid approach.
Her cardboard sign knocked Germany cyclist Tony Martin off balance slightly.
An insane pileup ensued.
The spectator’s sign read: “Go, grandpa and grandma!”
There were two crashes on Tour de France’s opening day, with 21 injuries between them.
The pile-up due to the sign-holding spectator caused nine of those injuries.
“We had everything under control until the crash,” Martin said via a press release.
“It all happened very quickly; suddenly almost the entire team was on the ground…
Many spectators behave respectfully, but unfortunately not this one.”
“The same chaos, the same moans, bodies everywhere and tangled machines.”
What’s the reaction been?
Yes the fan screwed up but there is no way the fans should be able to be that close.
Rope that shit off at least 5-10 feet back.
But can you imagine how she felt when she saw what she had caused?
Or how scared shes been every moment since?
Cant help but feel for her.
The signholding woman will now be investigated for endangering public safety,reports German publication DW.
Local police called for witnesses to come forward to help identify the woman.
And she’s been arrested?
She sure has, although the particulars aren’t entirely known yet.
One publication, France Bleu,reported that the 30-year-old woman turned herself in to policeon Wednesday.
However, the Associated Pressreported that the woman was tracked down by authoritiesafter witnesses at the scene were questioned.
Local police have been contacted for clarification but didn’t immediately respond.
What was Tuesday’s protest about?
The Saturday spill due to the sign holder was the first of many.
Later, toward the end of the same stage, 12 bikers suffered injuries in another crash.
But Stage 3, on Monday, was apparently the breaking point for Tour de France’s competitors.
Three separate crashes left dozens of bikers injured, some very seriously.
Jack Haig, a favorite, suffered a broken collarbone and a concussion.
Caleb Ewen also broke his collarbone.
Geraint Thomas, winner of Tour de France 2018, dislocated his shoulder.
These were just some of the known damages.
They then resumed the race at a more leisurely pace.
“Their frustration about foreseeable and preventable action is enormous,” cycling union CPA wrote in a statement.
Supporters are very important to them – and this is why they will be riding today."
“Ten years ago, there were 1,100 dangerous points on the Tour de France.
This year, there are 2,300.
If the level of demand becomes too great, there will be no more finishes.
That’s where we are.”
UCI President David Lappartient rejected criticisms on unsafe planning.
But I don’t think one should blame that on the route."
