This past Saturday, the 108th Tour de France kicked off to an international fanfare of excitement from cycling fans across the globe.
Like so many sporting events, the Tour saw markedly reduced spectator crowd sizes during last year's installment of the 23-day marathon bike race.
So this year, fans were abuzz with excitement as they cheered on the world's greatest cyclists as they left the gate at the start of the big race.
But one fan along the side of the track was a little too eager to be there.
Holding a big cardboard sign bearing a message to family members watching on television, the spectator obstructed the path of a racer, reportedly German rider Tony Martin, who fell off his bike.
You can see footage from multiple angles here:
Other riders then fell over Martin one by one, and a massive pileup took form.
This dumb dumb just took out half the top contenders. On day 1 : Stage 1 !!! #TourDeFrancepic.twitter.com/faAbqOw0Qz— mylissa fitzsimmons (@mylissa fitzsimmons) 1624725260
Viewers were stunned the Tour started off with such immediate chaos.
They had plenty of commentary to add.
The bloke who was holding the sign better run— Trishs mobile hair (@Trishs mobile hair) 1624796470
My dad was a cyclist for many years before an accident took him out. He was so crushed seeing this happen bc it could easily be avoided. A lifetime of training just squandered so someone could take a photo.— Ashley chen (@Ashley chen) 1624769049
Occasional nasty spills are to be expected, but man, this pile-up looks especially awful. I hope none of the riders suffered permanent long-term damages.\n\nAs for the sign person, I sure hope they can afford a good lawyer, because they're about to get sued for all they're worth.— SherlocksLeftNipple (@SherlocksLeftNipple) 1624783230
pic.twitter.com/WX63S6p6Uz— sup, papas? you join the union? (@sup, papas? you join the union?) 1624740548
Others had a slightly different take on the incident.
Hmm did he really you\u2019re telling me a piece of cardboard is strong enough to knock a professional cyclist off his bike? Seems to me the biker needs to hit the gym a little harder— This Guys Toys (@This Guys Toys) 1624811209
The most embarrassing thing about this is a world class cyclist was taken out by a piece of cardboard, resulting in half of the top contenders being wiped out on day 1— Chad King (@Chad King) 1624776832
Okay so granted, don\u2019t obstruct the field during the most important cycling event of the year, but also, the man got taken out by a partial forearm and cardboard?— Dylan Perry (@Dylan Perry) 1624817525
Everyone\u2019s talking bout the guy holding the sign , BUT LETS BE REAL !!!! Did a full grown man really get knocked down by a fucking Thin ass cardboard cut out pic.twitter.com/ke7taKS5pV— . (@.) 1624810745
As for the destiny of the woman who held the sign, CNN reported French Authorities have announced an open investigation into the cause of "unintentional injuries....by manifestly deliberate violation of an obligation of safety or prudence."
Tour de France Director Pierre-Yves Thouault told French publication AFP News Agency the organization plans to sue the woman "so that the tiny minority of people who do this don't spoil the show for everyone."
But according to CBS, the woman, believed to be German, quickly fled the scene and jumped on a plane. Authorities have been searching for her ever since.
As for the official Tour de France Twitter response, they tried to stop any future sign-holders from wreaking more havoc.
We're glad to have the public on the side of the road on the #TDF2021.\n\nBut for the Tour to be a success, respect the safety of the riders!\n\nDon't risk everything for a photo or to get on television!pic.twitter.com/eA6nnhRhWv— Tour de France\u2122 (@Tour de France\u2122) 1624718157
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