‘Golden cage’ fury as team bosses trade blows after Demi Vollering crash at Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift

Speaking afterwards to reporters, Delcourt said: “That crash wasn’t ASO’s [race organisers] fault, it was the riders. It all comes down to respect.

“The mentality of some teams is unbelievable. Truly disrespectful. They’re playing with people’s lives like this. Demi wants to ride at the front, but they keep cutting her off.”

These comments were emphatically refuted by Van Emden, who has race leader Marianne Vos and GC hopeful Pauline Ferrand-Prevot on his roster.

“Let me be clear, what he’s saying is completely ridiculous. He seems to want a peloton of eight riders with Demi in it, riding in a golden cage.

“Come on, this is the sport, isn’t it? Nothing happened that shouldn’t have. He’s just been influenced by Demi – by her dramatic behaviour.

“Let me leave it at this. But it needs to be said. Demi really thinks she’s in a golden cage. Sure, she’s the best rider. But that doesn’t mean everyone has to move aside for her.

“And Delcourt saying people’s lives are being put at risk – that’s just not true. That’s not reality. If you think that, maybe you should do another sport.”

GC hopefuls Marlen Reusser (Movistar) and Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE-ADQ) have already left the race, with Vollering and defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney set to fight it out for yellow.

Attention now turns to Stage 5, as riders go from Jaunay-Marigny Futuroscope to Gueret, with Vos holding the yellow jersey.

The Visma rider holds a 12-second lead in the general classification, but is expected to lose it when the mountains arrive.