Spectator Who Caused Stage 1 Crash at Tour de France Has Been Arrested

Photo credit: Michael Steele - Getty Images
Photo credit: Michael Steele - Getty Images

UPDATE: The spectator at the Tour de France who caused the crash during the first stage has been arrested, according to sources within the investigation.


  • During Stage 1 of the Tour de France, a fan caused a huge crash that took out the majority of the peloton.

  • Tour de France organizers have said they will sue the spectator who caused the massive pileup.


The roadside fan who caused a giant crash in the first stage of the 2021 Tour de France on Saturday will be sued by the organizers.

A woman held up a banner while standing on the edge of the road and was looking straight at the television motorbike cameras, with her back turned on the speeding peloton.

How to watch the 2021 Tour de France

German rider Tony Martin of Jumbo Visma brushed past her and was knocked off balance near the head of the peloton, and when he fell it caused a horrifying domino effect, creating a tangle of bikes and bodies.

DSM’s German rider Jasha Sutterlin was the only one who had to pull out at that moment but several people were hurt, including spectators.

“We are suing this woman who behaved so badly,” Tour deputy director Pierre-Yves Thouault told AFP.

“We are doing this so that the tiny minority of people who do this don’t spoil the show for everyone,” he said.

Italian champion Sonny Colbrelli of Bahrain-Victorious and Dutch rider Wout van Aert of Jumbo Visma, who ran over Martin before falling head over heels, had both been amongst the favorites to win the first stage hilltop finish, but both were badly delayed.

Two Ineos riders, Richie Porte and Tao Geoghegan Hart, both lost time, while champion Tadej Pogačar saw his righthand man Marc Hirschi badly hurt.

According to regional newspaper Ouest France the woman who was wearing a yellow jacket fled the scene and has yet to be found.

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