Tour de France riders had been attacked by nails on the highway of the ultimate kilometres of stage two in San Sebastian.
Several riders suffered punctures within the final throes of the 209km trip by the Spanish Basque Country. Lilian Calmejane posted a video on social media displaying his bike after the race, with 5 nails embedded within the entrance tyre.
‘Thank you for this sort of human bulls**t…” he tweeted. “I don’t think I was the only victim of a puncture in the end… know that you can fall and get really hurt with your bulls**t you morons.”
Race radio introduced a sequence of punctures from round 20km to the end line, with 15-20 riders affected. Race organiser ASO is investigating the incident.
Ineos Grenadiers’ Tom Pidcock was a kind of who suffered a sluggish puncture however was in a position to make it to the end. Luke Durbridge of Jayco-Alula additionally suffered a puncture and his tyres had been studded with nails.
Groupama-FDJ sports activities director Philippe Mauduit mentioned some riders in his staff had suffered punctures on account of nails whereas a consultant for the Lotto Dstny staff mentioned two of their riders had been additionally affected.
In 2012, dozens of riders and a few race motorbikes suffered punctures after the ascent to the Mur de Peguere throughout the 14th stage to Foix after nails had been thrown onto the highway.
Victor Lafay gave his Cofidis staff their first Tour de France win in 15 years when he claimed the second stage. The Frenchman powered away with one kilometre to go and held off the chasers within the last metres, whereas Tadej Pogacar completed third to say bonus seconds on reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard.
Additional reporting by Reuters