French police using Facebook to track down fan who caused Tour de France crash
Authorities are searching for the fan who stepped into the path of the peloton on the opening stage of the 2021 Tour


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
French police are searching for the spectator who caused a huge crash on stage one of the Tour de France.
The authorities are believed to be using Facebook to track down the fan, who caused a major pile-up when she stepped in front of Jumbo-Visma’s Tony Martin while trying to get her placard television during the opening stage.
Officers from Gendarmerie du Finistère have shared an appeal on Facebook urging anyone with information to come forward.
A statement on the force’s Facebook page, released on Sunday (June 27), said: “In the framework of an accident on 26/06/21 on the RD30 municipality of St Cadou , during the first stage of Tour de France 2021, a judicial investigation is opened for ‘involuntary injuries by deliberate breach of an obligation of safety or caution’.
“The spectator causing this accident left the scene before the investigators arrived. She was wearing glasses and dressed in blue jeans, red and white stripe sweater, yellow jacket (waxed). She holds a sign supporting the inscription ′’ALLEZ OPI-IMO!’
“Anyone with information is kindly asked to call the Finistère Gendarmerie Operational Centre.”
According to a report in French newspaper L’Equipe, police are now seeking the fan who could face one year in prison and a €15,000 (£12,800).
The incident, which happened with around 45km remaining of stage one from Brest to Landerneau in Brittany, caused a huge stir both inside and outside of cycling.
TV images from the crash showed the spectator leaning into the road in the path of the peloton while trying to get in front of broadcast camera.
The spectator put herself in the path of the Jumbo-Visma train at the right-hand side of the road, with Tony Martin unable to avoid her.
As Martin went down, the crash caused a chain reaction in the peloton with dozens of riders hitting the tarmac.
Amongst the chaos, one rider was forced to abandon the 2021 Tour, as Jasha Sütterlin (Team DSM) became the first rider to abandon this year’s race.
Tour de France organiser ASO has also said it plans to take legal action against the spectator.
Deputy director of the Tour Pierre-Yves Thoualt told AFP news agency: “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.”
>>> Tour de France: Who's out after stage two of the 2021 race?
The opening stage of the Tour de France saw thousands of fans gather at the side of the road to enjoy the racing, as the easing of lockdown restrictions allowed spectators to watch the racing live.
A Twitter statement from the Tour organisers said: ‘We’re glad to have the public on the side of the road on the Tour de France 2021, but for the Tour to be a success, respect the safety of the riders.
“Don’t risk everything for a photo or to get on television.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
Stefan Küng suffers concussion and broken hand in dramatic European Championships TT crash
Groupama-FDJ's Swiss rider forced to end season as a result of injuries
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tech Question: We're used to racers on narrow bars - but are they more comfortable, too?
We ask the experts what to look for in determining the optimal handlebar width
By Joe Baker Published
-
'They race like juniors': How men's pro cycling is getting wilder and races refuse to slow down
Racing from the gun during a three week Grand Tour is a big ask for even the best and the strongest. Is this the new cycling?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Remco Evenepoel hopes to 'steal' Jonas Vingegaard's secrets at Vuelta a España as he looks to 2024 Tour de France
Belgian aiming for second Vuelta a España triumph over the next three weeks, but faces stiff opposition
By Tom Davidson Published
-
WorldTour teams have an extra three years to halve carbon emissions before losing license - UCI clarifies
A carbon emissions tracker has been introduced and it is mandatory for all stakeholders to use it
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
‘I really like city street racing’ - Tadej Pogačar on the ‘enjoyable’ World Championships road race course
Slovenian two-time Tour de France winner took bronze behind rainbow jersey winner Mathieu van der Poel
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'Fan photos have quadrupled' - has Netflix's Tour de France Unchained made riders more popular?
The show's stars have seen their profiles boosted by the new documentary
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Opinion: Mark Cavendish Netflix documentary shows why Tour de France return is in doubt
Manxman's route out of depression shows what's really important
By Vern Pitt Published
-
Demi Vollering and Jonas Vingegaard both finished in yellow - but the Tour de France Femmes winner took home less than a tenth of the prize money
To put it in Euro per Kilometer, the 2023 men's Tour paid €146.8 per km while the women earned €52.3 per km.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
The talent is there: the Americans who impressed us in this year’s Tour de France
There were just six Americans among the 176-rider peloton but that didn't keep them from putting on a show.
By Henry Lord Published