top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Mountain bikers alerted as man finds ‘invisible trap’

Mountain bikers and hikers are warned to be on high alert after a biker in Isère reported an invisible “trap” on a trail in the mountains that he said could have “beheaded” him had he been going at speed.

The biker was taking a route near Saint-Hilaire du Touvet in the Chartreuse mountains (Isère in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), north east of Grenoble, when he crashed for no apparent reason.

Speaking to local news source France 3, he said: “There was a wire suspended across the path, from one side to the other. It was invisible, at human height. I smashed to the floor...but I was on a hill start, so was going very slowly. If I had hit it coming down [at speed], I could have been beheaded. Even a hiker walking down could have hurt themselves very badly.

“The wire was very thin but very strong - I couldn’t break it with my hands - and it was invisible. I only saw it when I passed by a second time. It was in a bend, and kept at face-height by a pole hidden in the bushes.”

The motorbiker then alerted the gendarmerie, fearing that there could be more “of these kinds of traps in the area”.

He said his location had specifically been: "On the trail starting from Petite Roche, passing by the top of the ski slopes to the source of Le Sanglier, which then goes down to the Col de Marcieu, towards the trail up to the slopes of the Aup du Seuil”.

Now, French biking association the Mountain Bikers Foundation (MBF) is warning all bikers to be alert, “especially in the Saint-Bernard commune, between the Col de Mercieu and up to the Aup du Seuil”.

The warning said: “Following this report, we have immediately informed le Conseil Départemental, which has forwarded the information to the Parc de Chartreuse, the wider community, and the tourist office at the Plateau des Petites Roches, which is in charge of leisure activities in the area. A park officer must now visit the area to check if there are any [dangerous] items on-site.”

The MBF reminded bikers that the smartphone app “Suricate” allows sportspeople to report, in real-time, any issues or problems found on trails or paths, allowing other users to remain alert.

It added: “This is not the first time that we have had issues like this.”

Elsewhere in France, in 2015, an elderly man was sentenced to nine months in prison for a similar act, which saw him deliberately installing unsafe nails and “cable traps” in the commune of Saint-Jean-de-la-Blaquiè (Hérault, Occitanie).

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France