A woman in her 60’s died last Saturday during the 14th stage of the 2009 Tour de France. The woman was attempting to cross the road when the accident happened near the town of Colmar in north-eastern France.
Alain Fontaine, a spokesman for the gendarmerie, told reporters: “A woman crossed the road and was hit by a Republican Guardsman on a motorcycle. Then the motorcycle slid and hit one or two more people.” The two injured spectators were a 37-year-old woman and a man in his 60s. Both are expected to survive according to police.
Riders from the guardsmen – the ceremonial unit of the French police – accompany the riders along the route of the race.