After Sunday’s terrible accident involving a French television car and two cyclists, Tour de France teams are demanding fewer vehicles on the course through professional cyclist association AIGCP.
Sky cyclist Juan Antonio Flecha and Dutch Vacansoleil rider Johnny Hoogerland were almost knocked out of the race when a TV car knocked Flecha into Hoogerland, sending the Dutch rider flying into a barbed wire fence.
The French police are investigating the who is responsible for Sunday's accident which resulted in a "traffic accident with physical injury".
33 Stitches
The two cyclists were in the leading group when the TV car overtook and swerved into Flecha. A manoeuvre which is against the rules on such a narrow stretch of road. Both riders lost time. Dutch cyclist Hoogerland, who had already gathered enough points to win the polka dot jersey for best climber, had lacerations to his legs and needed 33 stitches. Flecha injured his elbow and also received stitches.
After the accident Tour manager Christian Prudhomme expelled both the driver and the car from the competition on Sunday.
On Monday, race director Jean-Francois Pescheux told Reuters: "We visited the teams of all the riders who crashed yesterday. Vacansoleil are waiting to see how the rider feels and if he is unwell, it could become a legal issue. As for Team Sky, they look to me like they're not going to leave it as it is. But I don't see the riders staging a protest."
Legal action
But team Sky says although Flecha has not broken anything, his elbow is seriously hurt. The team management does not know whether he can ride on Tuesday. The team is considering taking action.
Vacansoleil has so far said it is not thinking of claims right now. For the time being the Dutch team is concentrating on keeping Hoogerland fit to ride.
"At the moment we are only concerned with the sporting part of the Tour. We are doing everything we can to keep Johnny on the bike. That is priority number one," said team manager Daan Luijkx.
The teams were visited by tour officials and French TV representatives in their team busses on Sunday.
"They apologised and we accepted their apologies. We do not want to point the finger. They did something wrong on Sunday and they know it," said Mr Luijkx.
Safety
Asked by Reuters what the International Cycling Union (UCI) could do to increase the riders' safety, UCI president Pat McQuaid said: "It would not be correct to react to an accident just now.
"However we must ask ourselves questions about the number of crashes, most of them taking place on straight lines. It is always the case in the first week of the Tour but the UCI road cycling committee will meet to discuss the issue," he said.
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An action on such a narrow road rules. Two riders lost time. Dutch cycling Hoogerland, has been collected enough points to win the dot best climber's jersey, cut his leg, 33 needle. flecha injured also received his elbow and the needle. Mercedes Benz Scanner
So sad to know about the accident of a potential Dutch winner. Other vehicles need to keep a safe distance-they kill the fun of cycling..
Way too many cars.
Judging from the events I've attended, pro cycling these days seems to be 10% cycling and 90% auto race. I actually saw team cars catching air off speed bumps while following the pack during the Eneco Tour. Completely unsafe. A few neutral support vehicles are all that's required to supply food, drinks, spare wheels/bikes and first aid.
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