Inflatable Tour banner attacks Adam Yates leaving him initially deflated

In the finale of Stage 7 at Lac de Payolle, the inflatable 1km-to-go banner collapsed taking out Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange). The altercation severely delayed the Englishman who faced a nervous wait for commissaires to take his overall time at the 3km marker.

Adam Yates feeling a little deflated (Getty) Source: Getty Images

Yates finally finished 73rd on the stage, three minutes and 30 seconds behind winner Steven Cummings (Dimension Data). This moved him down to 30th overall, eight minutes and 47 seconds behind race leader Greg Van Avermaet (BMC). 

Before knowing his ultimate GC fate, Yates said he was feeling a little deflated. 

"I'm disappointed. There's not much you can do. I had no time to react. It's a good job it was just me on my own. It could have been a lot worse with the peloton sprinting at 70 kph. Nothing can be done about it.

"I can't tell you what happened. The barrier came down. I attacked on the descent of the Col d'Aspin and started to take some risks. I tried to make a gap to take the white jersey. I hope so. We'll see what the organisers decided."

The ASO confirmed mid-evening Yates' time at the 3km mark would stand and now leads the young rider classification. The Orica-BikeExchange rider also sits second on the general classification. 

[tdf widget="tourleaders" stage="7"]

How did it happen?

Race organisers ASO said a spectator accidentally removed a pin holding down one of the inflatable arch's feet to the ground. 

“That had never happened in 15 years and is obviously regrettable,” said Tour director Christian Prudhomme.

Sounds like we're going to need some complex diagrams to explain that.

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) may need to hang tight to his combativity award.