A horrible crash caused by a spectator marred Stage 1 of the Baloise Ladies Tour

Charlotte Kool (Team dsm-firmenich) took a fantastic win in the first stage of the 2023 Baloise Ladies Tour, but behind her, there was chaos. As the peloton came into the finish a spectator slowly walked in front of the peloton, completely oblivious, and collided with Finland’s Antonia Gröndahl. The Finnish rider was able to get up and continue, but it’s another frustrating example of poor organization and safety measures in women’s WorldTour racing.

Tour Féminin Pyrénées director goes on rant, calls riders ‘spoiled children’ after UCI cancels race

In June, The Tour Féminin des Pyrénées’ second edition was halted when the UCI stepped in and terminated the event. This decision came after multiple teams decided to withdraw due to safety apprehensions. The riders were worried about the race’s disorganization, with cars present on the course, pedestrians crossing the road, and parked vehicles creating hazardous conditions for the cyclists. Consequently, the situation posed significant risks for the riders during the race.

Kool has won the first three stages, and leads overall with two days remaining.

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Check out the brutal finale below.

A fast sprint has just finished and the following riders are coming in at top speed. A roadside spectator slowly walks in front of the peloton and collides with Finland's Antonia Gröndahl. @LivRTeqFind #BaloiseLT #BaloiseLadiesTour #BLT23 @chevalmeire @BaloiseLT @JumboVismaWomen pic.twitter.com/ZwNw8s6aGM

— Phillip Martindale (@phillipm61) July 13, 2023