You know those moments that make you want to crawl under a rock from extreme embarrassment?
Well, the 2021 Tour de France gave us exactly that.
How It Started
The 2021 Tour de France is in full flow, riders are pumping their legs on the challenging Côte de Fossé climb, and everything’s going smoothly.
Until….
A spectator, seemingly more interested in their five seconds of camera fame than the approaching wall of professional cyclists, decided this was the perfect moment to hold up a sign…
…while half standing on the ACTUAL ROAD.
And not just any sign – they weren’t even facing the peloton! 🤦
Video: Fan Causes Tour de France Peloton Crash
The Domino Effect
Tony Martin was the unfortunate first rider to meet our camera-hungry friend’s cardboard creation. What followed next was more like a game of human dominoes rather than a bike race.
Riders went down on the right-hand side of the road, with many finding themselves taking an unscheduled tour of the French countryside ditches.
The Lucky Few
Only a handful of riders at the front, including Van Aert and Julian Alaphilippe, managed to escape the carnage.
They were probably thanking whatever cycling gods were watching over them that day.
The Aftermath
The incident created what commentators called “absolute havoc” – and that’s putting it mildly.
Many of the big GC favorites found themselves caught up in the mess.
What Happened To The “Fan”?
The sign-wielding spectator turned out to be a French woman who probably had one of the worst “oops” moment in recent Tour de France history.
Poor Marc Soler got the worst of it, ending up with two broken arms – definitely not the souvenir he was hoping for from the Tour.
After a brief stint in police custody, she faced the music with a €1,200 fine, plus some extra damages.
The Takeaway
Let this be a lesson to all Tour spectators: we love you being there helping build an atmosphere….but your perfect social media moment isn’t worth derailing one of cycling’s most prestigious events.
Maybe stick to selfies at a safe distance? Or better yet, just enjoy the race like a normal person?
The incident serves as a stark reminder that cycling events require respect and awareness from both participants and spectators.
Remember folks: watch the race, cheer for the riders, but please keep your social media aspirations in check. The Tour de France isn’t the place for your influencer debut or for your mom to say “I saw you on TV”.
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