Tadej Pogacar was pelted with chips during the final climb. © APA/afp / BERNARD PAPON

Fan causes trouble: cycling stars pelted with chips

A fan throwing chips caused anger among the top riders on the 14th stage of the Tour de France.

July 14, 2024

From: dpa/sn

The fan had positioned himself on the side of the road on the final climb to the Pla d'Adet ski station, first throwing chips at the leader Tadej Pogacar and then at his pursuer Jonas Vingegaard. A video of the action is circulating on the X platform.

"There was a lot of booing and someone threw chips at me. I heard that happened to Tadej too. That's a bit strange," said Vingegaard and had a message for all fans: "Just stay on the road and cheer everyone on. There's no reason for booing. I don't understand why you go to a cycling race and boo others and throw chips at them."

Police investigated fan incidents

In the past, the police have investigated similar incidents. In the spring, a woman was investigated for throwing a cloth hat in front of the bicycle of the leader Mathieu van der Poel during the Paris-Roubaix classic. She then turned herself in to the police.

At the 2021 Tour, a woman caused a mass crash when she held a sign on the road to greet her grandparents. German time trial specialist Tony Martin touched the cardboard sign, fell and took several riders with him. The woman was fined 1200 euros.



In the case of the chip thrower, no investigations may be launched. The riders were not permanently hindered by the action, and there was no danger. The tour organizers have taken various measures in the past to prevent such undesirable actions and to create more distance between professionals and fans. For example, the last kilometer of mountain finishes is fenced off, and on other climbs, spectators are held back with a taut rope and a large police presence.