Things We Saw Today: We Can’t Stop Thinking About That Woman Who Singlehandedly Derailed the Tour de France

Here’s the thing: we all make mistakes. Whether it’s spilling coffee on a new white shirt or accidently rear-ending the car in front of you, life is filled with moments we wish we could take back. For most of us, these moments are confined to a small handful of bystanders. But for this fan at the Tour de France, her enthusiasm and unwieldly cardboard sign managed to derail the most famous cycling race in the world.

In the video above, you can see the domino effect of this woman’s sign, which led to a multi-bike pile-up at the start of the race. The woman, sporting a yellow coat, can be seen holding a sign with “granny and granddad” written in German. The French police are currently trying to identify the woman, who they plan to charge with “deliberately violating safety regulations and causing injuries that might prevent someone working for up to three months”.

Tour de France Deputy Director Pierre-Yves Thouault said the tour would take legal action against the woman, saying “We are suing this woman who behaved so badly. We are doing this so that the tiny minority of people who do this do not spoil the show for everyone,” he told AFP news agency.

Many on social media are poking fun at the woman for ruining with the race with a single piece of cardboard:

Authorities are still looking for the woman, who is presumably dying her hair, changing her name, and moving across the world to start a new life. But look on the bright side lady: you may have ruined the Tour de France, but you’ve created a meme we’ll enjoy for years to come!

(via BBC, image: screencap)

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• Still enjoying this meme TBH:

Hope you’re having a chill Sunday, Sue Believers!

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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