Spectator Causes Crash On Stage 15 While Taking Selfie – Tour de France 2023
- Fan causes crash on stage 15 while taking selfie.
A spectator trying to take a selfie caused a crash on stage 15 of the Tour de France with about 20 riders coming off their bikes.
With about 125km remaining Team Jumbo-Visma rider Sepp Kuss had his handlebars knocked by a supporter who was holding out a phone.
Kuss swerved into team-mate Nathan van Hooydonck who fell off his bike, causing a crash behind him.
Saturday’s stage 14 saw six riders abandon after crashes.
All the riders who fell in Sunday’s crash on the 179km stage from Les Gets les Portes du Soleil to Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc were able to continue, including 2019 champion Egan Bernal.
General classification leader Jonas Vingegaard and second-placed Tadej Pogacar were unaffected.
‘Please pay attention to the riders’
Shortly after the incident, the official Tour de France Twitter account posted a slow-motion video of a rider ducking under a spectator’s outstretched arm with the message: “Please pay attention to the riders.”
Team Jumbo-Visma tweeted: “Please be always aware when watching cycling at the side of the road.”
Team Confidis also tweeted: “Please be careful. So that the party remains a party for the runners but also for you. You don’t need a cell phone to create mind-blowing memories.”
Team Jayco AlUla shared the following message on Twitter: “It looks like the crash was caused by a fan. Please respect the riders and give them space!”
INEOS Grenadiers echoed those thoughts, posting: “If you are spectating at this amazing event, please give the riders room to race.”
