Sign carrier who caused Tour de France pileup fined 1,200 euros

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Europe

Sign carrier who caused Tour de France pileup fined 1,200 euros



Riders are riders are helped by medical staff on June 26, 2021 after a crash caused by a spectator during the first stage of the 108th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, between Brest and Landerneau. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images)

By Maite Fernández Simon
Today at 10:49 a.m. EST

A Tour de France spectator who caused a rider pileup in June will have to pay a 1,200 euro fine ($1,350).

The 31-year-old woman, who has not been identified, stepped onto the path holding a sign before TV cameras saluting her grandparents with her back facing the incoming cyclists. German rider Tony Martin bumped her and fell, causing a chain-reaction crash of other riders 28 miles from the end of the first stage, between Brest and Landerneau, in northwestern France.

Two riders exited the competition as a result of the accident, and another eight were injured, according to the BBC. The woman fled the chaotic scene, prompting a search. She eventually turned herself in and was arrested June 30.

Link to tweet

In addition to paying the $1,350 fine, a criminal court in Brest on Thursday ordered her to pay a symbolic 1 euro fine to the association of French professional cyclists, a plaintiff in the case.

The charges of causing unintentional injuries and endangering lives could carry steeper penalties. But prosecutor Solenn Briand said the woman recognized “how dangerous” her behavior had been and expressed remorse, according to Agence France-Presse. She told the court in October she was ashamed at her “stupidity.”

{snip}

By Maite Fernández Simon
Maite Fernández Simon is a senior operations editor working with the Foreign and National Security teams at The Washington Post. Before The Post, she worked as an engagement strategist at CQ Roll Call. Previously, she worked in the nonprofit world, including a two-year stint as communications director for the International Center for Journalists. Twitter https://twitter.com/maits

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/11/spectator-tour-france-accident-fine/

[lapfog_1]

1. not nearly enough

considering the injuries that resulted.

[quaint]

2. She's sorry, so it's okay.

Fuh.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. She acted without malice.

She carelessly acted out of vain stupidity, but she didn't intend to hurt anyone. She certainly deserves punishment, a matter I trust to the justice system that investigated her and the incident thoroughly. This fine might be crippling to her.

Could have cost her more, but not less.

[Raven123]

4. Should be banned from attending Le Tour and similar events for a while.

[Aussie105]

5. Need more distance between spectators and sports events.

Stupid spectators do stupid things.

Need I say this? Never turn your back on a fast approaching thing, be it a gaggle of riders or a train. Or avalanche. Or anything.

[yardwork]

10. I agree. I was surprised that it was possible for a spectator to walk on the course.

People do stupid things. Seems like more could be done to protect the racers.

[nitpicker]

11. I assume you haven't seen the NBC Sports coverage of Tour de France

People spilling onto the path and almost touching the racers.

About the only places barricaded off are about the final kilometre of each stage.

((there may be others, but I didn't notice them))

[stopdiggin]

16. yeah. it's a 'thing'

and the Tour doesn't seem to care enough to do anything about it.

Fans being assholes (and sports not caring a particular lot) is reasonable commonplace - but the madness at the tour events raises the stakes several notches.

[former9thward]

18. Impossible to barricade routes that are a hundred or more miles in length.

And change every single day.

[stopdiggin]

20. yes the logistics are overwhelming

but they could make some efforts toward improvement - and for the most part don't even try. These incidents (and this is far from the first) will continue to happen - and in all likelihood get worse.

[Lucky Luciano]

14. She probably thought the Tour de France was like a rally car race where the most insane fans are

[Jacson6]

6. This is way off topic!

IMHO. YMMV.

[marble falls]

13. LBN has become LBN Lite. It could be someone's wart, just as long as the time stamp is right.

[AngryOldDem]

23. I dunno.

This was a pretty big story, especially since she ran off. It’s good to see some followup.

As always, YMMV.

[ripcord]

7. This is the problem with legal systems

This woman should be paying full compensation not a tiny fine and 1 euro symbolic compensation, you know damn good and well that the event was out much more than one euro. People just aren't made to take responsibility for their actions.

[IronLionZion]

8. Seems a bit lenient

but they really should stop spectators from being so close to the riders.

[nitpicker]

12. IMO, it's considered to be really impractical

It's a stoppage of crossing roads to let the peleton pass, then everyone goes back to normal.

Given that courses can be over 200 km long, it may be more efficient to have advance vehicles clear the way.

[Calista241]

9. She basically cost Primo Roglič his chance at winning the Tour.

[Orrex]

15. Well, that's one way to break the cycle.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

19. Well spoken. But, I wonder if she was framed. nt

[Jimbo S]

21. I didn't know the authorities had found her

I thought she was facing criminal charges.

[AngryOldDem]

22. Is that all?

Cyclists could have been killed by that dumbass stunt.

At least she’s “sorry.” 🙄