Video: Adam Yates crashes into flamme rouge inflatable banner

Yates was left bloodied but will start Stage 8 in the white jersey

Philippe Tremblay July 9, 2016

In the finale of Stage 7 of the Tour de France, Adam Yate of Orica-Bike Exchange attacked on the final climb of the day in an effort to seize the white jersey and second place overall from Julien Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep). On a stage defined by the yellow jersey riding in the breakaway and Steven Cumming of Dimension Data riding solo to victory, Yates was animating the action from the group of favourites.

Near the top of the Col d’Aspin, Yates responded to an acceleration from Dan Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) and passed the Irishman creating a seven-second buffer over the group general classification contenders. However, disaster struck when the inflatable Vittel sponsored flamme rouge collapsed on Yates front wheel causing the British rider to go crashing to the ground.

Close behind, a Mavic support vehicle caught the moment the flamme rouge lost it’s inflation and came collapsing down. At first it was unclear what had happened as the camera cut to images of the flamme rouge arch tangled up with the Mavic service motorbke, Yates standing with a bloody chin and several riders trying to navigate through the obstacle.

Yates would cross the line in 73rd but the race jury decided the times would be taken at the three kilometer to go barrier. Alaphilippe received the white jersey in the podium ceremony after Stage 7 but as the decision was made after Yates will be riding in the white jersey on Stage 8.