A Tour de France TV motorbike crew appeared to accidentally clip a haybale on stage 5 of the race today, shunting it slightly into the road and resulting in some riders crashing.
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The incident occurred towards the front of the reduced peloton with just under 30km to go. The group was at the time some 1:40 down on the early breakaway, which made it all the way into Wallers-Arenberg after 157km of racing.
The two big casualties of that crash were one of the general classification favourites Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal). Reports at the time of writing suggest Roglič dislocated his shoulder. What is clear is that he lost 2:08 on Tour champion, and clear favourite, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates).
In the TV images above, as the TV moto broadcasting the footage exits the roundabout the camera shakes a little, suggesting it accidentally clipped something. And when the safety bale comes into view, it is moving a little, even before any riders hit it. That slightly movement further suggests it had just be struck with enough force to shunt it slightly from its resting place on the kerb and into the road.
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The incident - which was completely accidental and was not helped by the position of the safety bale right on the edge of the road - has likely ended Roglič's challenge at the Tour, for the second year in succession.
Meanwhile, Ewan looked badly shook after the crash, which continues a run of rotten luck for him at Grand Tours, and he was left to limp home way back in 153rd place. He was almost 12 minutes down on stage winner Simon Clarke (Israel Premier Tech); a nightmare for Ewan who was riding very well over the cobbles.
