Spectator kicks bottle back into Giro d’Abruzzo peloton and sends rider crashing

The incident occurred with around 25 kilometres remaining as the race headed towards its demanding finale in Casalincontrada. While the bunch was climbing, a rider threw a bottle towards the side of the road, where a spectator appeared ready to collect it.

Instead of picking it up, the spectator kicked the bottle back towards the riders.

The bottle rolled directly into the moving peloton, forcing several riders to change their line at short notice. Although nobody appeared to ride over it, the sudden evasive movements caused trouble further inside the group.

Peyton Burckel of EF Education-Aevolo touched the rear wheel of the rider in front of him and went down. The American was able to get back on his bike and continue, with the crash appearing to have caused no serious injuries.

Footage of the incident does not make clear whether the spectator deliberately intended to send the bottle back into the bunch or simply reacted without considering the consequences.

The race continued without further disruption, with Alessandro Fancellu (MBH Bank CSB) eventually emerging strongest on the uphill finish. The Italian took the opening stage victory ahead of Kévin Vauquelin (Netcompany-Ineos), while Mathys Rondel (Tudor) completed the podium.

Fancellu’s win also put him into the early overall lead of the four stage Giro d’Abruzzo.