President of Tour De France race organisers ASO Christophe Prudhomme has called the person who threw tacks on to the road which caused a large number of riders to puncture around the 20kms to go mark in this afternoon's 14th stage as stupid.
Speaking to Eurosport, Monsieur Prudhomme (Pictured below right) said that they have checked the tyres of the motorbikes and cars and a number of tacks had been found.
Picture copyright of ASO
He went on to say that this was an idiotic thing to do which could have had serious consquences and although it does not happen very often, the person who did it was stupid.
Writing in his blog about the tacks, Cadel Evans wrote;
"After a hard start, an easier transition to a dramatic final - a little bit more drama than we are used to today...three punctures in the last 38km, mostly of them downhill, all caused by tacks. I do not know how or why the tacks were on the road; I'm guessing someone who was watching on Tv can piece together the facts to draw a conclusion. For me, first a rear puncture in the last kilometre of the climb. 'Stevo' came but had a puncture already, Amaël gave me his wheel which went flat. Giorgio, Michi, Amaël and the 'Quinzi' came together like only my 'BMC Guardian Angels' can, only for me to puncture in the front (that could have been dangerous), then we could finally go fast and get back.
I don't have a tv on my bike - as many of the press do not seem to understand - so I do not know what went on in the yellow jersey group, reports tell me 'Wiggo' was the sporting one....some others not so sporting... On a day like that you learn a lot about your colleagues."