Accident Hurts Rider, Fan At Tour

Wednesday’s fourth stage of the Tour de France was marred by a fall that brought up the role of safety on the roads. This time, a rider and a spectator were injured.

“The falls are more numerous this year and more dangerous than in the past because the speeds are greater,” Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc said.

Leblanc also mentioned the handlebars, the rider’s position over the bars and the gear ratio, which makes the riders go faster but also is more dangerous.

On Wednesday, Spain’s Vicente Garcia-Acosta sustained a broken collarbone when he fell after bumping into a spectator. Both were taken to a hospital.

The fourth stage from Plumelec to Le Puy du Fou, 138.6 miles, was won by Italian Nicolas Minali, who edged Frenchman Frederic Moncassin. Erik Zabel of Germany, Tuesday’s stage winner, was third, and Mario Cipollini, the overall leader and winner of the first two stages, finished fourth. Cipollini leads the race by 4 seconds over Zabel.

Throughout the day, the Tour was welcomed by thousands of fans along the road, leaving narrow passages. That causes danger, but to eliminate the problem would ruin the Tour de France.

“We can’t put the Tour on the auto routes,” Leblanc said.