Tour de France stage finish intruder handed suspended prison sentence
A police officer tackled a spectator who attempted to ride across the Tour de France finish line just seconds before the peloton's arrival at the Valence, and has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
The individual, wearing a Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale jersey and riding a black bike, climbed over barriers approximately one minute before the cyclists were due to arrive. Security footage showed the person navigating the slippery finish area while a Tour de France official unsuccessfully attempted to intervene.
Witnesses reported that an officer from the GO CRS, a specialised unit within the French National Police, apprehended the intruder moments after he crossed the line. The police officer then helped remove the person from the course just before the approaching riders reached the finish.
The incident nearly disrupted what was already a reduced sprint finish following a major crash just a kilometre before it. Jonathan Milan ultimately claimed victory from a significantly smaller group than anticipated.
Tour organisers have not yet confirmed whether the spectator intended to protest or simply disrupt the event. The finale of stage 11 in Toulouse saw a protestor run onto the finishing straight just as Jonas Abrahamsen and Mauro Schmid were sprinting for victory.
The breach highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by major cycling events, particularly in controlling access to finish areas where riders arrive at high speeds.
Update: Reports indicate that the spectator has received an eight-month suspended prison sentence and a €500 fine. The man has also been banned from attending sporting events for five years after the incident in Valence.
Police are still investigating the motivations behind the man's actions, and it remains unclear what his intentions were.
