A spectator who threw chips at Tadej Pogachar and Jonas Vingegaard on the climb to Pula Dade in stage 14 of the Tour de France has reportedly been arrested for "aggravated violence" and will be interviewed by police today.

As a large crowd greeted the top GC players in Saturday's final, a "fan" threw the contents of a chip into the face of a potential winner, damaging the atmosphere. Stage winner Pogachar shook his head on the spot, while Vingegaard questioned "Why come to a bike race and do this after a stage?"

According to Le Parisien, the man was immediately taken into custody after repeatedly violating Pogachar against Visma leader Vingegaard in the last few kilometers of the climb. However, he could not be questioned because they waited for him to sober up yesterday evening.

"He was with some very nice friends, cycling fans like us. We knew each other well and talked about cycling, Brittany, playing shuffleboard, everything. But he was very drunk," the witness told the French newspaper.

Witnesses were as puzzled by the behavior of the man in question as the athletes and commentators, and EF Education - Easy Post manager Jonathan Vaughters later asked on Eurosport, "Are you there to be a cycling fan or do you love the sport?"

However, according to witnesses, the offending spectator was quickly and thankfully taken away so as not to disturb other riders on the final climb.

"[A nearby police officer] pushed him off the road rather abruptly, and within five minutes a police car arrived behind the barrier and took him away," said the witness, who was equally puzzled by the offender's friends.

"The gesture did not seem premeditated. After the riders had passed, his friends were surprised. They were obviously not the first tools, but it was the first time he had done something that stupid."

Adam Hansen, president of the players' union, the CPA (Cyclistes Professionnels Associés), announced on X (formerly Twitter), "The CPA will gladly take legal action against this man for what he did to both Pogacar and Vingegaard. This is disrespectful and will not be tolerated."

Hansen later thanked the French police for their quick response when they learned that a spectator had been arrested.

"We have information that the gendarmerie has already found and arrested the man who committed this act and spent last night in jail," Hansen said on social media. 'We thank the Gendarmerie for their quick and excellent work. Please be responsible and respect the rider."

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