Thursday, July 1st, 2021
“Feel great anger”
Tour professional wants to sue the cause of the crash
The organization of the Tour de France withdraws its complaint against the spectator, who caused a mass fall on the first stage. The Spanish professional cyclist Marc Soler wants to sue the woman who “threw away his whole tour” after several broken bones.
One day after the person who had caused the fall was arrested on the opening day of the Tour de France, the organizers of the Tour of France withdrew their complaint against her. Race director Christian Prudhomme announced this to the AFP news agency. “The incident and its consequences have blown all dimensions,” said Prudhomme: “Now we want to bring some calm into things, especially since the message should have arrived that fans should be careful at the roadside.”
The deputy race director Pierre-Yves Thouault told the “L’Équipe”: “The attention should belong to the drivers, not the spectators.” The viewer, who, according to media reports, is 30 or 31 years old and is said to come from Finisterre in northwestern France, turned herself in to the police on Wednesday and was taken into custody. On the first stage to Landerneau, the woman had held a cardboard sign in the path of the driver field, whereupon around 30 drivers had fallen. Several professional cyclists were injured and some had to be hospitalized.
“I feel great anger”
The authorities are investigating the woman for negligent bodily harm and facing imprisonment and a fine. She should be released later that day on Thursday. She faces a maximum of two years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros. But for this you would have to be proven to have endangered the lives of other people.
In addition, there could be claims for damages. The Spanish Movistar professional Marc Soler, who had broken his arms, has now announced legal action. “I think I will sue the viewer,” he told the Spanish newspaper “La Vanguardia”. “My whole tour was thrown away and I feel great anger.”
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