Safety put at risk by idiotic fans who take ‘selfies’

He was among a number of leading riders who warned of the potential risks to bystanders who choose to stand in the road with their backs to the speeding peloton.

He said: “The worst thing is when people have got their back to the peloton taking selfies. There were a few. They don’t see us coming, they’re stood in the road and it’s dodgy. If you want to do that, stand on a wall or something.

“I think people need to realise we take up the whole road. If you want to go and do that, go and sit in a tree.

“People don’t understand how fast we’re going and how close we get. There have been too many accidents with riders hitting spectators.”

His team-mate Richie Porte added: “With the crowd 10 deep in places, it was dangerous at times with so many people taking selfies getting in our path.”

A man suffered back and facial injuries in a “targeted attack” at the Tour de France fan park in Sheffield.

Police are investigating after the 32-year-old was taken to hospital with cuts following the incident at the park on Jenkin Hill, off Jenkin Road, yesterday afternoon.

The victim was in a stable condition after the assault, which happened before the cyclists passed through.

Elsewhere, a teenage boy was airlifed to hospital with leg injuries after he fell from the roadside in Ilkley and into the path of a Tour vehicle.