THE TOUR DE FRANCE was hit with ANOTHER horror crash that marred Tim Merlier’s victory at stage three.
Both Caleb Ewan and Peter Sagan were taken down just yards from the line just days after a dramatic collision was caused by a fan during stage one.
Ewen clipped Tim Merlier’s wheel on the home straight and went down, bringing Sagan with him in a tangle of wheels.
And the latest incident - with Tadej Pogacar, Geraint Thomas, Primoz Roglic, Jack Haig among the earlier casualties - overshadowed the Belgian Alpecin–Fenix rider's victory on his Tour debut.
Ewan meanwhile has not been listed as a stage finisher and Thomas De Gendt shared his fear that his teammate had broken his collarbone.
Speaking to Eurosport afterwards, Mark Cavendish said: “Although I didn’t get to sprint today, I think I was lucky.
“I just saw Caleb and he doesn’t look in a good way, so I hope he’s OK.”
SunSport previously reported that police remain on the hunt for a female cycling fan who caused the crash during stage one.
Prosecutors in Brittany launched a criminal enquiry after 21 riders were injured by a spectator's hand-written sign before she fled the scene.
The unidentified woman was caught on camera holding a sign that read 'Come on granddad-granny', in a mix of French and German.
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The fan was looking straight at the TV camera on the passing bike and failed to notice the riders rapidly approaching her spot.
Tony Martin, on the right-hand side of the peleton, went down after crashing into her arm, taking the whole Jumbo Visma team with him.
There were several serious injuries as a result of the crash with German rider Jasha Sutterlin forced to pull out of the entire contest.