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The spectator who caused a massive pile-up on the first stage of the 2021 Tour de France has been arrested.

A 30-year-old woman is in custody after presenting herself at a police station in Landerneau, Finistère, a source close to the investigation has told AFP.

Read more: Tour de France: Police search for woman who caused 50-rider pile-up

She has been accused of involuntarily causing injury and putting the life of others at risk.

Christian Prudhomme told French media. "You come here to see heroes. If you want to see yourself look in the mirror."

German cyclist Tony Martin was sent tumbling when he rode straight into a cardboard sign being held out by a fan looking at a passing television camera.

The collision led to several other riders falling off their bikes around 45km from the end of the Brest-Landerneau stage. Nine riders were injured in the pile-up, though only one had to retire as a result.

It was one of two crashes on the Tour's opening day, which caused 21 injuries between them. Another huge pile-up occurred on narrow roads towards the end of Monday’s stage.

On Tuesday, riders expressed their frustration at the number of falls in this year’s race, by stopping and getting off their bikes for one minute 500m after the start of the fourth stage before riding the next 10km of the stage at a much slower pace.

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