Tour de France spectator with cardboard sign still at large after causing massive chain collision

French police are looking for the woman.

Matthias Ang | June 29, 2021, 04:54 PM

A spectator at the Tour de France who caused a massive collision among cyclists by holding up a cardboard sign is reportedly missing.

According to French media Ouest-Francethe spectator is still at large.

During Stage 1 of the Tour de France on June 26, the woman had been standing on the side of the road while holding up a cardboard sign, looking at cameras with her back turned away from the oncoming cyclists.

A cyclist at the head of the pack then rode into the sign and was knocked off his balance, with his fall causing a chain collision among the riders.

The woman’s sign read, "Come on grandad-granny" in a mix of French and German.

Hunted by French police

In the wake of the crash on June 26, French authorities said that they intend to charge the spectator with "unintentional short-term injury through a manifestly deliberate breach of a duty of safety or care".

Meanwhile, the deputy director of Tour de France, Pierre-Yves Thouault added that organisers intend to sue the spectator to send a message.

AFP quoted him as saying: "We are doing this so that the tiny minority of people who do this don’t spoil the show for everyone."

More about the collision:

Top collage left photo via Gendarmerie du Finistère Facebook , right photo by Anne-Christine Poujoulat - Pool/Getty Images