Team Sky: 'This has nothing to do with weather or barriers. It's crazy'
Team Sky speak out after a dramatic day on the 2016 Tour de France
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Team Sky say that "thousands" of spectators were the root cause of an incident on Mont Ventoux that caused Chris Froome and the other leaders to crash.
Richie Porte (BMC Racing) crashed into a motorbike that had to brake for crowding fans around 1.5 kilometres to race on the 9.7-kilometre closing climb. Froome and Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), the other two leaders, fell as well.
Froome had to run with his bike broken and lost time when first trying to use a neutral bike and then switching to his own.
It appears that the race jury has neutralised the result, and in fact Froome appears to have increased his lead in the general classification, but the chaotic scenes turned what should have been a race-defining stage into a farce.
"It's crazy, there's nothing to do with the weather or the barriers," Sky Sports Director Nicolas Portal said.
"It's a shame about what happened. It's not just one spectator, it's about thousands. It's not one, two or 10. It gives me the shits.
"We've been animated the race, and today we were on the offensive, creating splits. And now this happens."
Watch: Tour de France 2016 stage 12 highlights
Froome ran for around 40 seconds until he took a Mavic neutral service bike. It was too small and he had to stop again. The chasing group behind the trio caught and passed Froome and Porte.
Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) placed behind Mollema and was marked as the provisional race leader, but he is now 47 seconds behind Froome in second place.
"There was a wall of people, and we just couldn't get through. The Sky car was blocked by the commissaires car, and we couldn't get through," Portal added. "It's more than just a mechanical, we couldn't get even get through to him. It's just crazy."
Thank you for reading 10 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
-
-
Tom Boonen considers a return to racing: 'I'm considering looking for some competition on the bike again'
After a nearly six-year break from professional cycling, the competitive cycling itch is starting to prickle again for Classics legend Tom Boonen.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
17-year-old CX rider ‘catapulted’ into layby by tractor scores top ten finish at national champs
Raph Tabiner from Warrington nearly gave up racing all together after shocking incident
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I remember the crowds more than anything': Tom Pidcock recalls his Alpe d'Huez Tour de France stage win
Our male rider of the year, Tom Pidcock, talks us through the highs and lows of his 2022 campaign
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Leo Hayter, Cycling Weekly's rising star of 2022, talks through his season in the spotlight
We caught up with the winner of the "Baby Giro" to hear all about the win in Italy and his dream move to Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers release 'visibly fast' 2023 jersey
Navy is replaced with red as British team changes its look
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Chris Froome highlights dangers of long Covid after battle with virus
Four-time Tour de France champion warns of cardiovascular impact and says his VO2 max took a hit after illness
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘It’s a good thing and shows progression of the sport’ - Ben Swift hails changes at British Cycling academy
Ineos Grenadier says putting academy riders in with development teams will encourage development of many skills
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I know I can do it so I need to make that next level': Ben Turner signs Ineos Grenadiers contract extension
The Classics and another Grand Tour are on the agenda for Doncaster's Big Ben
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published