Tour de France spectators taking selfies of themselves along the course have been condemned by cyclists who claim it is dangerous.

More than a million people witnessed the first stage of the event from Leeds to Harrogate in Britain, creating problems for cyclists and their support cars trying to navigate the course.

• Cavendish ‘gutted’ after Tour de France exit

British cyclist Simon Yates, riding for Australia’s Orica GreenEDGE team, told the New York Post that people taking selfies and turning their back to the course risk cyclists’ safety.

Tour de france selfie #tourdefrance pic.twitter.com/eQhWFdSb7q

— Nath! (@nathsufc) July 6, 2014

“The crowd support in England was amazing. The only real complaint was people taking selfies in the middle of the bunch and having their back to the peloton,” said Yates.

“Everyone is out there having fun and a lot of people don’t realize we’re coming past at 37 mph [60 kmph] and we use every inch of the roads.”

Several riders have also fallen off their bikes and collided with each other after trying to navigate their way through massive crowds lining the narrow, winding roads.

Great day! Tour de France selfie. pic.twitter.com/Uikbm489W0 — Jordan Barkham (@JordanBarkham) July 6, 2014