Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck QuickStep) managed to re-join the group after being caught in the first crash to solo home for the stage win in Landerneau, with Aussie Michael Matthews (Team BikeExchange) coming in second.
With 45km to go, a fan looking the wrong way held out a cardboard sign onto the edge of the road as the peloton approached. The fan was partially on the roadway, and left Tony Martin (Jumbo-Visma) with nowhere to go as the German veteran hit the road hard, causing a mass pile-up.
Martin was thrown off his bike and chaos ensued, with a large portion of the peloton going down and other spectators being caught in the fray.
Many were left requiring medical treatment, including Jasha Sutterlin (DSM) who became the first rider to abandon this year’s Tour as a result.
A host of the top riders were caught up in the crash along with Alaphilippe, including Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), Marc Hirschi (UAE Emirates), Miguel Angel Lopez and Marc Soler (both Movistar), and Aussie Jack Haig and Sonny Colbrelli (both Bahrain Victorious).
Most of the affected group were able to recover and join the peloton, in a scene that served as a serious reminder to spectators to act accordingly when watching from the roadside during the Tour.
Then, with just 6km to the finish at a crucial part of the stage, a rider near the front of the group went down at high speed, causing mayhem again as bikes went flying in all directions.
Caught up amongst the carnage was Aussie Richie Porte (INEOS Grenadiers) who lost time as a result and Chris Froome (Israel Start-Up Nation), who stayed down and looked to be in serious pain.
Froome managed to get back on the bike and cross the finish line in Landerneau in what was a less than ideal return to the French Grand Tour for the 36-year-old.
