Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) being blocked by TV motos on the Col de la Loze climb yesterday was one of the more dramatic moments of stage 17, when the Danish race leader dropped his rival Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) by almost six minutes.
One of the media motorbikes stalled on the climb, which was very steep and packed with spectators, with other motos and Tour cars then getting stuck behind it. Vingegaard arrived at that stretch of the climb, with one of his team mates, and had to weave through the chaos like a commuter in morning rush hour.
The first moto to stall was carrying France Télévisions commentator, and former pro rider, Thomas Voeckler and was driven by Joël Chary.
The commissaires have clearly taken a very dim view of what happened - even though conditions very very tricky given the gradients on the corners and the sheer size and enthusiasm of the crowds on the roadside on what was the highest climb of the Tour.
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The finger of blame has come to rest with Voeckler and Chary and they have been suspended from the race as a penalty, though that suspension is on for one day. They were also fined were also fined 500 Swiss Francs for their role in the incident with just over 8km to go on the stage and while Vingegaard was charging up the climb in pursuit of the remaining breakaway men.
However, while the yellow jersey was definitely held up - for a considerable time - and lost vital momentum on a climb with gradients of 24 per cent, it is highly unlike he would have caught Felix Gall (AG2R Citroën Team), who was riding to a brilliant stage win.
And as the damage in Vingegaard's wake was so significant by the time he was held up, the time he lost matters little, though the incident was embarrassing for the Tour.
