Tacks thrown onto the route of Sunday’s 14th stage of the Tour de France caused punctures for about 30 riders and at least one accident that forced a rider to quit the race, and organizers have asked police to investigate the incident.
Race director Jean-Francois Pescheux said the small metal tacks were spread out over the course of about one kilometre during the climb up the Mur de Peguere about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the finish, with defending champion Cadel Evans among those to suffer a puncture.
However, the Sky Team - whose leader, Bradley Wiggins, is in the yellow jersey - encouraged the pack to not speed ahead or take advantage of the mishaps of the affected riders, and Evans was eventually able to catch up to the peloton after getting a new wheel.
“Sky immediately stopped the pack so that everyone could finish in the best conditions,” Pescheux said. “Sky were very sporting, they slowed things down and everything returned to order.”
Read more: Tour de France seeks police help after race sabotaged by tacks - The Globe and Mail
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