7 July, 2015. 16:05

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

THE TOUR DE FRANCE race director has revealed that the higher than average rate of accidents this year has lead to a surge in interest from US audiences.

Overnight, roughly 100km into the third stage, French rider William Bonnet clipped the wheel of countryman Warren Barguil and tumbled on to the bitumen, causing a catastrophic crash that devastated the peloton and injured about 20 riders.

The incident was so entertaining that organisers immediately called off the race, as paramedics and race officials tended to the injured.

The crash overnight in the Tour De France injured over 20 riders. SOURCE: SkyNews

Video has emerged of the crash, which quickly went viral around the world. Especially in the swampy Deep South of the United States.

The cultural yardstick of the confederate states is undoubtedly NASCAR, which was made famous worldwide not by its fierce competition and skill, but by its innate ability to produce some of the most spectacular accidents and crashes in sports entertainment.

Since the crash last night on the Tour De France, the audience for the world’s most famous bicycle race is growing in the conservative heartland.

NASCAR crashes have entertained billions around the world for years. SOURCE: Fox News Miami

The cycling fan base in The South is now larger than it was when former local hero now drug cheat Lance Armstrong was conquering the road racing world.

George Le Croix has been a sports commentator with WJXT Jacksonville on Florida’s north shore for over a decade – and he says that cycling has discovered NASCAR’s secret formula.

“NASCAR, especially here in The South, only started to grow exponentially when the crashes got bigger and bigger,” he said.

“You see, these people don’t just wanna watch the cars go round and round. They wanna see ’em flip end over end in to the crowd on fire,”

“I know. I know. It’s pretty darn sick but it keeps the cheques from bouncing.”

Mr Le Croix’s sentiments have been echoed by lifelong cycling fanatic Dale Greenblatt of Adelaide, who said that more crashes and injuries can only be good for the sport.

“There so many drugs in cycling these days that it’s not really a competition anymore,” he said.

“That’s why when these jacked-up bike jockeys have a big crash, people will want to see it. I guarantee there are millions of people around the world watching the video of last night’s crash who didn’t even know the Tour De France was on,”

“Either way, it’s great for the sport because it brings people in and entertains them.”

The Advocate attempted to contact Tour De France officials this morning to ask them if they plan to include more injuries and crashes in the future, they are yet to respond.