Cycling: Anger as nail-throwers cause chaos

FOIX: Police began their search for the roadside fans whose nail-throwing antics during the Tour de France caused mayhem at the end of the hilly 14th stage. Dozens of riders fell victim to the saboteurs who threw small nails on the ground near the top of the Mur de Peguere climb and caused several leading riders' bikes to puncture. Once the extent of the incident became apparent, the Sky team of yellow jersey holder Bradley Wiggins helped restore order by waiting for those delayed riders affected by the sabotage. Wiggins himself had to change bikes due to a puncture. Tour de France organisers immediately lodged a formal complaint with the police. "We condemn this irresponsible and dangerous behaviour, which amounts to an attempt to harm the physical integrity of the riders and the smooth functioning of the race," read a statement of the race organisers.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2012.