The young man who threw potato crisps at Pogacar and Vingegaard was arrested by the police and then placed in police custody for aggravated violence. After a night in a drunk cell, he will be questioned this Sunday.
"It was a great afternoon of the Tour de France, partying, meeting people, cycling enthusiasts... until this stupid gesture," are the words of an eye-witness Alexis, reported by Le Parisien. And then it happened. Another young man threw a bag of potato crisps in the face of attacking Tadej Pogacar and likewise "attacked" the chasing Jonas Vingegaard. Absolutely mind-blowing.
An image that was captured by the television cameras that follow the two champions quickly made the rounds on social networks, scandalizing many Internet users. The CPA, the riders' union, announced, through its president, Adam Hansen, that it would take legal action against the author of this gesture: "This is disrespectful and will not be tolerated," he posted via his X account.
At the finish, Vingegaard, the winner of last two Tour de France editions, said he did not "understand those who go to a bike race to throw chips".
A misunderstanding that is also shared by Alexis, who realized after the riders had passed that he had immortalized this moment in a series of photos. Before seeing the indignation on social networks.
"He was with a group of very nice friends, cycling fans, like us. We got to know each other well, talked about everything, cycling, Brittany and played shuffleboard," says the young man. "But he had a very drunken afternoon." According to Alexis, a police officer who was stationed nearby and who saw the scene intervened immediately after the gesture against the leader of Visma. With a hat on his head, bare-chested and the flag of Brittany, he only saw these two riders at most.
"He pushed him off the road quite abruptly and a police car arrived behind the barriers to take him away less than five minutes later," continues the witness, who "doesn't understand why he did that." According to Le Parisien information, he was taken into custody.
According to Alexis, alcohol could be the main reason for this attitude which could have had significant consequences on the riders. "The gesture did not seem premeditated. After the riders had passed, his friends were surprised. They were clearly not at their first Tour but it was the first time he had done something stupid like that."
The @cpacycling will take legal action against this guy with pleasure due to what he did to both @TamauPogi and @VingegaardJonas. This is disrespectful and will not be tolerated.
Para que lo reportéis y actuéis en consecuencia, @LeTour Que no quede indemne el gracioso de turno. Por suerte, el 99% de los aficionados respetan al ciclista. #TDF2024
