Racers Endangered During Final Stage of Paris-Nice When Random Car Appears on The Course

Race courses are closed to vehicular traffic during bike races. The only cars and motorcycles allowed on the course belong to the teams, neutral technical support, race officials, and the media, and those vehicles are always traveling in the same direction of the peloton.

At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen.

So when a random public car suddenly appeared on the course about 60K from the finish of Sunday’s final stage of Paris-Nice traveling towards the riders who were descending the first-category Côte de Peille at high speeds, everyone’s collective heart stopped.

“Now how on earth has that happened?”

Cycling commentator Rob Hatch kept it relatively civil (he is British, after all) as he was commenting on what was happening in real time as he was calling the race. “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,” he said. “Now how on earth has that happened? I’m angry seeing things like that in a pro race.”

After the stage ended, racers were not quite as reserved in expressing their feelings about what could have very easily become a deadly situation. The fact that no one crashed almost seems miraculous.

“Another day in the death race.”

Florian Sénéchal, who races for Soudal-Quick Step, was much for direct, taking to Twitter to call out race organizers for “another day in the death race.” It wasn’t just the car that could have potentially caused grave injuries, according to Sénéchal.

Not the first times there were vehicle on the course during Paris-Nice this year

The French athlete also posted multiple photos of hard-to-see speedbumps that littered the same descent and were hard to see, especially when traveling at high speeds, that created seriously dangerous conditions.

Sénéchal had condemned race organizers on Twitter following Stage 5 as well after there were public vehicles using a roundabout at the same time as the peloton was passing through it. Again, how are these drivers even ending up on what is supposed to be a closed course?

“That could have been an absolute nightmare,” Hatch commented. “Organizers really need to get a grip.” We couldn’t agree more.

You Might Also Like

• The Right Chain Lube Can Save You Thousands

• Everything You Need to Start E-Bike Commuting

• 7 Things You Should Do After Every Rainy Ride