Tour de France - Deaths

Deaths

Cyclists who have died during the Tour de France:

• 1910: French racer Adolphe Helière drowned at the French Riviera during a rest day.
• 1935: Spanish racer Francisco Cepeda plunged down a ravine on the Col du Galibier.
• 1967: 13 July, Stage 13: Tom Simpson died of heart failure during the ascent of Mont Ventoux. Amphetamines were found in Simpson's jersey and blood.
• 1995: 18 July, Stage 15: Fabio Casartelli crashed at 88 km/h (55 mph) while descending the Col de Portet d'Aspet.

Another seven fatal accidents have occurred:

• 1934: A motorcyclist giving a demonstration in the velodrome of La Roche Sur Yon, to entertain the crowd before the cyclists arrived, died after he crashed at high speed.
• 1957: 14 July: Motorcycle rider Rene Wagter and passenger Alex Virot, a journalist for Radio Luxembourg, went off a mountain road near Ax-les-Thermes.
• 1958: An official, Constant Wouters, died after an accident with sprinter André Darrigade at the Parc des Princes.
• 1964: Twenty people died when a supply van hit a bridge in the Dordogne region, resulting in the highest tour-related death toll.
• 2000: A 12-year-old from Ginasservis, known as Phillippe, was hit by a car in the Tour de France publicity caravan.
• 2002: A seven-year-old boy, Melvin Pompele, died near Retjons after running in front of the caravan.
• 2009: 18 July, Stage 14: A spectator in her 60s was struck and killed by a police motorcycle while crossing a road along the route near Wittelsheim.