Police arrest drunk man who threw crisps into the face of Tour de France leader Tadej Pogacar mid-race

According to French reports, the spectator who threw a bag of chips at Tour de France leader Tadej Pogacar has been arrested.

Pogacar extended his lead at the top of the general classification to almost two minutes over Danish rival Jonas Vingegaard in Saturday’s stage 14.

On Sunday, the Slovenian rider will try to push the Visma-Lease rider even further back on the 197.7 kilometer long route between Loudenvielle and Plateau de Beille.

Pogacar raced solo over the final stretch of Pla d’Adet and had to dodge a fan who tried to throw a bag of chips at the Slovenian race leader.

The spectator did the same to the Dane Vingegaard, who broke through shortly afterwards.

The Slovenian general classification leader had chips thrown in his face halfway through the race

The CPA [Professional Cycling Association] “I will happily take legal action against this man for what he did to both Pogacar and Vingegaard,” CPA chairman Adam Hansen wrote in a post on X after the race on Saturday.

“This is disrespectful and will not be tolerated.”

According to a report in Le Parisien on Sunday, the man had been arrested by French police and spent the night in a cell to sober up before being questioned. He was drunk before the incident. A witness said: “He had a very drunken afternoon.”

A police officer witnessed the scene and immediately arrested the man for aggravated assault.

Vingegaard finished 39 seconds behind Pogacar, while Belgian Remco Evenepoel, who was second in the general classification before stage 14, finished 70 seconds behind. That dropped him to third in the general classification, behind the Dane.

“There was quite a bit of booing and throwing chips. I also heard them throwing chips at Tadej which is strange,” Vingegaard said after the stage.

“Just stay off the road. I don’t understand why you go to a bike race and boo people.”