Outrage over Tour fans standing on graves in cemetery, families of the deceased are shocked: "Can't imagine the disrespect"

The controversy involves footage from stage two, which Van der Poel won. With 8.5 kilometers to go, the stage featured a mountain sprint on the Côte de Saint-Étienne-au-Mont, the penultimate climb of the day. Of course, many Tour fans gathered there to watch the peloton fly by in the finale. However, some fans chose a rather shocking spot to watch the riders pass.

Due to the crowds, several spectators decided to watch from the cemetery in Saint-Étienne-au-Mont, which borders the course. Dozens of cycling fans even stood on graves, sparking outrage, particularly from the families of those buried there.

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French newspaper La Voix du Nord spoke to a French couple whose family members are buried in the cemetery. “Friends sent us the footage. We suddenly saw a man jumping on the graves of my parents and sister. It’s a huge lack of respect. how can anyone do that without questioning it? I can’t believe it.”

On Sunday evening, the municipality of Saint-Étienne-au-Mont posted a proud message on social media about the Tour passing through their village of around 5,000 residents. But the comments on their Facebook post show that many people were disgusted by the incident. “Unacceptable! The Tour de France is a celebration, but respect should never be forgotten,” wrote one commenter. Another said, “The cemetery should have been closed!”