The image is spectacular but the incident without gravity. While the riders of the Tour de France were barely starting this 14th stage linking Saint-Étienne to Mende, a gendarmerie vehicle caught fire 1 km from the finish on the Côte de la Croix Neuve. The Dacia Duster in question was literally ravaged by flames in front of the incredulous gaze of some spectators. Firefighters immediately rushed to the damaged car and the fire was quickly brought under control.
Fortunately, the incident did not cause any damage, apart from traces of black smoke on the herbaceous plants around the road. The bitumen was then cleaned and no longer showed any debris. For the time being, it is impossible to determine the causes of this fire.
The end of this 14th stage is in no way threatened and the riders will be able to cross this Côte de la Croix-Neuve in complete safety. There are currently about sixty kilometers of racing left during this stage where a breakaway of more than 20 riders prances in the lead more than 10 minutes from the peloton.
At the start of the race, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar directly attacked the Danish yellow jersey, Jonas Vingegaard. The double defending champion wants to regain first place in the general classification, which he hasn’t held since July 13, and a memorable stage between Albertville and the Col du Granon.