by Jonas Vingegaard still donned the yellow jersey as Wout Poels claimed victory during stage 15 of the Tour de France on Sunday, but it was not without drama.
Approximately 52 kilometers after the event, a bystander allegedly holding a cell phone in his hand while on the side of the road inadvertently touched American cyclist Sepp Kuss, causing him and several other cyclists to fall.
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Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay receives help from Belgium’s Olivier Naesen, left, after crashing during stage 15 of the Tour de France on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
“There was a spectator leaning towards the road, I guess. It just happened suddenly, and that’s part of the Tour, there are a lot of people,” Kuss said afterwards via Cycling News. “Ideally that wouldn’t happen, but it’s the biggest bike race in the world and a lot of people don’t know exactly what’s going on.”
“There was a narrowing in a city. We were just trying to slow down the peloton (pack) to let the brake go, and then unfortunately someone wanted to take a selfie. I didn’t really see it coming up.”
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Cyclists get back on their feet after crashing during stage 15 of the Tour de France on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Vingegaard reminded fans to keep an eye out for cyclists coming down the roads.
“I’d like to tell the spectators to enjoy the race and be there to cheer us on without standing in the road or throwing beers at us,” said the overall leader. “Please enjoy the race.”
The Cofidis team added: “Please be careful. So that the party remains a party for the cyclists, but also for you. You don’t need a cell phone to make amazing memories.”
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Dane Jonas Vingegaard, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium after stage 15 of the Tour de France on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Organizers also called on fans to “pay attention to the cyclists” after the incident.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
