The gendarmerie in Landerneau, where the spectator who caused a mass pileup on the opening day of the Tour de France remains in custody.JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images
The spectator accused of having caused a massive pileup during the first stage of the Tour de France cycling race in Brittany will face trial on Oct. 14, the local prosecutor’s department said on Friday.
The spectator, a 30-year-old Frenchwoman, is being sued for involuntarily causing injury and putting the life of others at risk, the prosecutor also said in a statement.
She was arrested and placed in custody on Wednesday after presenting herself at a police station in Brittany.
The spectator was holding a cardboard sign and facing away from the cyclists at a television camera as they passed. German rider Tony Martin was sent tumbling when he rode straight into the sign, and a large number of other riders came down in the ensuing pileup.
Local prosecutor Camille Miansoni told a news conference on Thursday that the woman had no police or justice records and expressed fear and shame after what she said was a moment of “idiocy.”