This is the story of the banana peel in Mario Kart. When you dodge it, everything is fine, when you go straight into it, however, it’s the drama. On Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Mikkel Honoré and Tadej Pogacar went straight into it, except that the banana was a big pothole. A clearly visible hole on a degraded roadway now at the origin of a controversy in Belgium, where we do not laugh with the safety of the runners.
We learned this week that the accident could therefore have been avoided. In any case, this is the version given to The future by the burgomaster (mayor) of Bertogne, the village at the exit of which the double fall took place. “I had asked the SPW (regional technical services) to plug the hole. I reissued my request the Friday before the race. I went to the scene on Sunday morning but nothing had been done. I put a colored band at the place of the hole to warn of the danger. I contacted the police who notified the race marshals. Then he sat down in front of his TV to watch his fears take shape.
“What would have happened if there was a tragedy? »
If the hole was quickly filled after the abandonment of Tadej Pogacar, the controversy has not ceased to swell. So much so that Sarah Pierre, spokesperson for the Walloon public service, had to answer in the columns of Sud Info, where photos of the hole have also been published. The culprit is all found, it is the fault of winter. “When the Tour de France passes through Belgium, special public contracts are awarded to carry out repairs before the event. As it is July, there is time to do the work. Here we are at the end of winter. The coating suffered and the weather was not good in April. »
Finally, everyone has their little excuse to get rid of the tile. The Mayor of Bertogne however warns: “if there are no works for next year, I will no longer authorize the race to cross our commune. It’s really too dangerous. What would have happened if there was a drama? »