|
Jumbo-Visma’s Sepp Kuss was brought down by a
fan who stretched his arm toward him and the American lost his
balance, triggering a the pile-up that sent two dozens of riders
to the deck, including two team mates of Kuss.
A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that
the fan had been identified by the French gendarmerie but would
not be arrested unless Kuss would sue him.
Asked if Kuss would press charges, a Jumbo-Visma spokesperson
told Reuters: "The team might do. We’ll find out how and when."
Tour de France teams have urged spectators to be more careful.
"There was a spectator leaning into the road... There was a
narrowing in a town. We were just trying to slow down the
peloton to let the break go," Jumbo-Visma's Kuss said.
"And then just on the side unfortunately, somebody wanted to get
a selfie. I didn't really see it coming."
Team Cofidis asked spectators to be careful and said in a
statement that they "don't need a cellphone to make memories".
Egan Bernal, the 2019 champion, was one of the riders brought
down in the crash and his Ineos Grenadiers team called on
spectators to "give the riders room to race".
In 2021, a fan who caused a crash when she held up a cardboard
sign towards a television camera while facing away from oncoming
cyclists was fined 1,200 euros ($1,347.48).
Prosecutors had sought a four-month suspended jail sentence
after she was accused of involuntarily causing injury and
putting the lives of others at risk.
Monday is a rest day before Tuesday's 16th stage, a 22.4km time
trial. Vingegaard holds a 10-second lead over twice winner Tadej
Pogacar as the Tour enters its final week.
($1 = 0.8906 euros)
(Additional reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by
Peter Rutherford and Christian Radnedge)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
