Tour de France: ‘What are they playing at?’ – Lilian Calmejane wiped out after fan jersey tribute goes wrong

Lilian Calmejane (Intermarche–Circus–Wanty) suffered an unusual crash on Stage 9 at the 2023 Tour de France after a roped display of jerseys got tangled in his bike.

Five Poulidor jerseys were strung up between two poles, like a washing line, when the contraption snapped and ended up lodged in Calmejanes’ handlebars.

“Oh no,” said Rob Hatch on Eurosport commentary. “What are they playing at?”

To his credit, the guilty spectator arrived on the scene to assist Calmejane – but his only ‘reward’ for helping was having a jersey thrown back in his face and a death stare from the irate Frenchman.

The jerseys were a tribute to Raymond Poulidor, cycling’s ‘Eternal Second’, who died aged 83 in 2019. The legendary Frenchman finished on the Tour podium eight times, but was denied a yellow jersey largely as his career coincided with Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx.

Poulidor’s grandson is Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck), who is currently competing at the Tour.

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