Crashes are sadly commonplace on the Tour de France however the first of the 2024 version got here even earlier than the beginning of the opening stage in Florence, as Jan Hirt (Soudal Fast-Step) hit the deck and broke his enamel after getting caught on a spectator’s bag.
Organisers reportedly misplaced management on the Grand Départ in Tuscany, the place spectators bypassed boundaries and located their method into the workforce space. The commotion brought on riders to should half huge crowds en route from sign-on again to their workforce buses, the place Hirt caught his handlebars on the bag of a fan and fell onto his face.
The information was first reported by HLN, who acknowledged that the Czech climber had burst his lip and that workforce medical doctors had been instantly there to deal with him and search for a part of his damaged enamel. This was confirmed by workforce boss Patrick Lefevere on X previously Twitter, with an image of Hirt.
“There are 100 guidelines for the workforce however one [spectator] with a backpack made crashing Jan Hirt between the signings and the bus. 3 enamel damaged,” he stated.
Hirt is among the key climbing domestiques supporting debutant star Remco Evenepoel alongside the likes of Mikel Landa. He took the beginning however was rapidly struggling off the again – hopefully, his accidents will not get any worse.
It is honest to say that each Soudal Fast-Step and Hirt’s teammates weren’t pleased with the incident.
“It’s full chaos. The group has no management over it in any respect. Individuals are working in every single place,” stated Yves Lampaert to VTM Nieuws. “Jan went excessive. We riders get fines galore for small issues, the group ought to have a look within the mirror. It’s unacceptable.”
