'It put the safety of our colleagues at risk' – Visma-Lease a Bike staff report two 'aggressive' and 'intoxicated' spectators to police at Coppi e Bartali

Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed that two spectators, believed to be ‘intoxicated’ had behaved ‘aggressively’ towards their employees members whereas they had been within the workforce’s race car throughout stage 4 on the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali on Saturday.

Footage shared throughout social media platforms seems to indicate one spectator leaping onto the roof of the Visma-Lease a Bike workforce automotive whereas the opposite stood beside the car and punched the closed driver’s-side window.

In a press release issued by Visma-Lease a Bike following the race, the workforce stated that the spectator who jumped onto the automotive had “tried to take away a motorbike from the roof.” The workforce additionally stated that the second spectator “behaved very aggressively in the direction of the occupants of the automotive.”

Article continues beneath

You could like

Visma-Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge stated within the official workforce assertion following the race that the workforce has reported the incident to native authorities and the occasion organisers.

“We take this incident very significantly, because it put the security of our colleagues in danger,” Plugge stated. “Our employees on website instantly went to the police and likewise reported the incident to the race group. Ultimately, no tools was stolen and no injury was triggered.

“The colleagues within the automotive are okay, however understandably shaken.”

Cyclingnews has reached out to the organisers of Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali to request remark and extra data.

Axel Laurance (Ineos Grenadiers) secured one other victory on stage 4’s 159.6km race from Ponte di Piave into Valdobbiadene and moved again into the general race lead because the race is about to conclude on Sunday.