It brought thousands of cycling fans and a healthy dose of joie de vivre to the Yorkshire countryside . But the Tour de France has been blamed for leaving a much less welcome legacy – an accident blackspot . Before last summer 's race , potholes and cracks in the village of Brockholes were smoothed over to provide the elite cyclists with the best surface . Before the race potholes in Brockholes were filled and smoothed to provide cyclists with the best surface . But now residents claim they have been left with an accident blackspot - and the road has been closed . Initially villagers were delighted , but after the cyclists left they soon realised that the surface of Smithy Place Lane was so smooth cars were sliding across it as they rounded the bend . Now they say the lane has turned into an accident blackspot which they describe as 'deadly ' and lethal ' . And after a series of crashes highway chiefs seem to agree - as they have used emergency powers to shut the lane . Hairdresser Emilie McLean , 23 , of Honley , wrote off her Ford Fiesta when she hit her brakes but failed to stop , smashing into a van . She said : 'It was horrendous . ' I was just driving down when I came round the bend and there was a van coming towards me . I slammed on the brakes but the wheels locked , it was just like being on black ice . There was nothing I could do . ' Her car was written off and there was £1,500 damage to the van - but when she reported what happened to the council she received short shrift . After a series of crashes highway chiefs have used emergency powers to shut the lane . ' I just want to know what they are doing about it , ' she said . 'What is taking so long ? ' Another driver , Serena McCluskey , is also in negotiations with her insurance company after the firm ruled she was entirely liable when she too ploughed into the side of a van . Dr McCluskey , a Huddersfield University researcher , described how she braked but her car kept going . She had her eight-year-old daughter in the car at the time and she has now lodged an official complaint with the council . Another local resident , Chris O'Brien , said he believed the road had been a problem since resurfacing work was carried out ahead of last year 's Tour de France . ' I have a four-wheel drive but I have come out of there and gone sideways , ' he said . 'It 's lethal . There 's been loads of crashes . ' Another resident said : 'The road is deadly . The council smoothed it over and now it 's like driving on ice . ' A council spokesman said : 'The council is extending the emergency road closure , which expires on March 11 , for four weeks . Further investigations are ongoing . ' Tour de France leaves Hebden Bridge to climb Cragg Vale the longest continuous gradient in England .
A Yorkshire village had a road smoothed over for the Tour de France . But Brockholes residents say cars now skid on it because it 's too smooth . They claim the road is now an accident blackspot as cars keep crashing .