HUGE pileup at tour de france caused by woman with cardboard sign.

[powderman]

HUGE pileup at Tour de france caused by woman holding out cardboard sign.
« on: Today at 04:30:30 PM »

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/french-authorities-investigation-tour-de-france-spectator-pileup

French authorities launch investigation after Tour de France spectator causes massive pileup
Authorities said the suspect fled the scene
Paulina DedajBy Paulina Dedaj | Fox News

Fox News Flash top headlines for June 27
French authorities have launched an investigation after a spectator interfered in stage one of the Tour de France on Saturday, causing a massive pileup with less than 30 miles until the finish line.

The French Gendarmerie said in a statement posted to Facebook that they are actively looking for the woman who held out a cardboard sign into the road causing the crash that resulted in several riders sustaining serious injuries.

TOUR DE FRANCE SEES 2 MASSIVE PILEUPS AS SPECTATOR CAUSES INITIAL CRASH WITH SIGN

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Authorities said the suspect, dressed in blue jeans, a red and white striped shirt and a yellow raincoat, fled the scene before anyone could reach her.


Several videos posted on social media showed a spectator holding out a cardboard sign on the side of the road when a rider in the peloton crashed into the sign, causing a massive pileup.


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The Dutch riding team, Jumbo-Visma, was among the racers most significantly impacted by the crash. Cyclist Tony Martin was the one who made contact with the spectator’s sign, according to reports.

Martin reportedly suffered road rash from the initial crash but was able to rejoin the race while Germany’s Jasha Sutterlin had to withdraw. Several others were injured including Spain’s Marc Soler who withdrew from the race following the completion of stage one after he suffered fractures in both arms, eurosport.com reported.

Tour deputy director Pierre-Yves Thouault told AFP that they plan to sue.

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"We are suing this woman who behaved so badly," he said. "We are doing this so that the tiny minority of people who do this do not spoil the show for everyone."

Lieutenant-colonel Joel Scherer of the French Gendarmerie also told AFP that they intend to charge the suspect when she’s found for "unintentional short-term injury through a manifestly deliberate breach of a duty of safety or care."

[Win94ae]

Looks like she got the attention she was looking for.

[Ranger99]

Did I read correctly?
The one guy broke both arms?
Needs some more muscle structure
for support and to eat more sensibly
instead of a bunch of vegan trash.

We need meat and dairy so we
won't be whispy little twigs

[Land_Owner]

Stupid people are going to do stupid stuff.   Bunching up riders like that, as in any GO FAST race, is a recipe for disaster.  We've seen it in the races of horses, dogs, Track & Field, motor cross, downhill bicycle, skateboards, roller skating, unlimited Soap Box Derby, stock cars, and every fog, snow, ice, rain, and inclement weather induced crash on the U.S. highways for 75+ years.

Perhaps the French, pointing one finger at the woman, should recognize three fingers pointed back at themselves for allowing the crush of spectators to impede the race course.  What could possibly go wrong?

[ironglows]

.
  True, much of the blame can be posted to the organizers  themselves, just as any other contest that bunches up competitors at the start.  ..But of course, this doesn't excuse the bonehead idea by the female spectator.
   
   Some contests have it figured out..  for instance, the Iditarod race and some rallies where they are sent off at intervals, by stop watch.

  I suppose there will be some will bunch up later, front runners, then mediocre followed by also rans..but a major mob scene at the start seems unnecessary.

[ironglows]

Did I read correctly?
The one guy broke both arms?
Needs some more muscle structure
for support and to eat more sensibly
instead of a bunch of vegan trash.

We need meat and dairy so we
won't be whispy little twigs

   Not to be contradictory, but I always figured that any sensible athlete would want a well balanced diet for maintenance and high carbs etc. for competition.  ...And I don't think celeryand sticks would do it !   

   So, I looked up the rider's diet. Although I assume they carry a good diet during the week, this site shows their diet on competition day, when they don't want a stuffed stomach.
     https://www.cyclingweekly.com/fitness/professional-cyclists-eat-332394

   From the article;

    "But professional cyclists must be professionals 24 hours a day. A body’s performance capacity in the long run depends on whether its building blocks are made from McDonald’s and Mars bars or vegetables, meat and superfoods.”