Authorities claim they have detained the Stage 1 crash culprit.
French authorities on Wednesday found and arrested a woman they say caused a crash at the Tour de France on June 26, according to multiple reports.
The woman, whose identity has not been released, could face a fine up to 1,500 euros, according to RTL. She is accused of holding a cardboard sign that struck Tour rider Tony Martin and kicked off a massive peloton pileup over the weekend. Many riders sustained injuries, and at least three riders had to withdraw after the stage.
“We are suing this woman who behaved so badly,” Tour de France Deputy Director Pierre-Yves Thouault told the AFP news agency following the crash. “We are doing this so that the tiny minority of people who do this do not spoil the show for everyone.”
After news of the crash spread, several media outlets reported the woman in question fled the country and was untraceable. French authorities requested that witnesses come forward to assist in identifying and locating the suspect.
But reports say the woman was found and arrested in the French commune of Landerneau, situated in the northwest of the country.
In the wake of multiple crashes on the Tour this year, a riders’ union protested unsafe riding conditions by pulling over and riding slowly through the opening 10 km.
