The 2011 Tour de France began on a sour note on Saturday when a female observer stood too close to the cyclists’ path and caused dozens of racers to crash.
Just before completing the first stage of the Tour, Maxim Iglinsky of Astana was touched by the spectator’s elbow, which extended just barely onto the track. Iglinsky tipped over, causing dozens of cyclists to fall like dominoes around him.
Defending champion Alberto Contador was one of the bikers involved in the pile-up and lost over a minute of time disentangling himself from the throng of angry competitors.
Australia’s Cadel Evans edged out Spaniard Contador by a fraction of a second to win the fourth stage of the Tour today.
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