The driver of a team Ineos Grenadiers‘ support car appears to have hit a spectator who was standing on the side of the race course along the Col du Peyresourde on stage 14 of the Tour de France on Saturday.
The driver of the vehicle, sports director Oliver Cookson, was later fined 5,000 CHF and given a yellow card by the Tour de France commissaires for “incorrect behaviour that endangering spectators”.
According to the official communique from the commissaires’ panel that was published after the stage had finished, officials referenced Article 2.12.007-8.2.2.
Cyclingnews reached out to Ineos Grenadiers for a statement regarding the car incident, with the team replying:
“Our thoughts and sincere apologies go out to the fan who was accidentally and regretfully hit by one of our race cars while supporting the riders during today’s stage. Like all teams, we take great care to maintain a safe race environment for everyone – including the passionate fans who make our sport so special.”
TV footage shows images of the team vehicle, driven by Cookson, behind a small breakaway that included their riders Thymen Arensman and Carlos Rodríguez, with 32.6km to go when the incident occurred.
The Col du Peyresourde was the third climb of the day and peaked at roughly the 150km mark of the 182.6km from Pau to the summit at Luchon-Superbagnères in the Pyrénées.
The climb was crowded with fans clapping at the side of the road as the riders in the breakaway group first passed, followed by the Ineos Grenadiers team vehicle and two official motorbikes that were part of the race.
Footage shows a spectator standing on the roadway holding out what appears to be a mobile phone when the driver of the Ineos Grenadiers’ vehicle hits the spectator.
The spectator first rolled onto the hood of the vehicle and then fell to the ground, and the driver of the vehicle immediately stopped the car.
There has been no information or medical update provided about the health of the spectator.
Officials later confirmed in their post-race communique that Cookson was fined and received a yellow card; however, Ineos Grenadiers did not comment when asked if Cookson would be permitted to continue driving in the race caravan for the remaining stages of the Tour de France.
More to follow…
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