Spectator who caused Tour de France crash to go on trial

Italy's Kristian Sbaragli, left, and France's Bryan Coquard, right, lie on the ground after crashing during the first stage of the Tour de France cycling race. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat, Pool Photo via AP)

The roadside spectator who caused a massive pile-up during the first stage of the Tour de France in June goes on trial on Thursday in what a riders' union said it hopes will help raise awareness over safety risks in cycling races.

The French woman, who has not been named, sent one cyclist tumbling - with dozens more falling to the ground as a consequence - because of a large cardboard sign she was holding at a television camera, facing away from the cyclists.