Ineos DS fined, yellow carded after car hits spectator at Tour de France

Ineos Grenadiers sports director Oliver Cookson has received a 5,000 CHF fine and a yellow card after the team car he was driving struck a spectator during stage 14 of the Tour de France on the slopes of the Col du Peyresourde.

Television footage captured the moment when an Ineos team car hit a fan who was standing roadside with a mobile phone in hand. The impact caused the spectator to roll onto the hood of the vehicle before falling to the ground, with Cookson immediately stopping the vehicle after the collision. 

Race officials issued the penalty for "incorrect behaviour that endangered spectators." The incident occurred approximately 32km from the finish line while the car was following Ineos riders Thymen Arensman and Carlos Rodríguez in the breakaway group.

No information regarding the spectator's medical condition has been released at the time of writing, and the incident has raised further concerns and questions about safety protocols during high-profile bike races such as the Tour de France, where vehicles operate in close proximity to fans. 

Beyond the unfortunate incident, it was a very successful day for the Ineos Grenadiers, as Arensman went on to win the stage atop Superbagnères, the first Tour stage victory for the team since Carlos Rodríguez in 2023.