'fans' on summit finishes
Comments
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Going by the official signs on the roadside, between virages ('turns') 5 and 6*, at Huez Village, which is three-quarters of the way up the climb.
(*actually it was turns 5 and 4)0 -
Le Commentateur wrote:Going by the official signs on the roadside, between virages ('turns') 5 and 6, at Huez Village, which is three-quarters of the way up the climb.
Man, it's crazy. Speeds are still so high. Quite a good ambiance though!0 -
Le Commentateur wrote:Can't resist posting my big day out on l'Alpe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQAoqhIlcjo
Hopefully captures the essence of watching a stage finish on a climb (and yet not knowing who's actually won the race further up the road).
Yeah it is a bit odd watching what is a brief snapshot of an event and not having a clue of what has gone on before or what happens further on up the road so you can put it into context.0 -
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We were between turns 16 and 17 nearer the bottom. The spectators there were really well behaved and a lot were families. We had the Gilbert fan club in the cafe on the corner and a bunch of Dutch with a cracking pictured tv on the corner.
The one that did make me laugh was the idiot who decided he wanted to push Rein Taaramäe (i think) whilst pouring water all over his back. He soon got a shove in the face and then received a quick clothesline from another spectator. Felt for Rein who was put completely off his rhythm.
The idiots in the TOC are without doubt the worst. They simply want to be on TV, running up the road centimetres from the riders and looking straight down the camera...0 -
Maybe it's an American thing – there was one in a bright red gimp costume just before the 4km-to-go banner, where the crowd barriers started.They seem to start lower down each time the race goes there.0
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It's only a matter of time before stage finishes like
Alpe D'Huez are subject to barriers - it's inevitable. A small minority will kill the fun of the vast majority.
And TBH, from a rider perspective I can understand it - it was completely out of control.0 -
I was on hairpin 4, and whilst there were some unfortunate incidents with Contador, Voekler et al, most fans were well behaved. They get close, they always do but this is the Alp. Having watched it back on the TV I don't think it is any worse than previous years. There are always idiots, but the fact the fans can get so close is part of what makes the sport what it is.
Jens Voigt came through with the biggest smile on his face, a 40 year old vet still loving the adulation of the fans on this unique mountain, as were some of the lesser known riders. Additonally, the day before 3.5km from the finish of the Galibier some of the riders looking close to death appreciated some of the 20m /30m pushes they were getting from some of the fans as they laboured to the finish. It may not be right, but it makes it a great deal more exciting than football.0 -
I was at corner 17, 4 from the bottom.
I had a Nacho Libre type wrestler and a big red bird thing chase after Contador and Schleck near me.
I wich I knew the red thing was going to run as I would have loved to trip him. That would have been brilliant for the cameras.
I didn't see it happen on any other mountain stages.
PS, I was the well behaved guy in the kilt.0 -
Ben6899 wrote:I was on Montgenevré for Stage 17 and the fans were generally well behaved. HOWEVER; one bloke stepped right out in front of the lead bunch (led by Chavanel) and the Movistar rider (sorry just back in England, no TV coverage, no idea who he was) went crackers! Screamed at him.
And rightly so. Too many abuse the privilege of not being fenced off and if it carries on like this, then the authorities might well make changes. And we'll suffer for them.
Where abouts were you? we were just before the final roundabout before the finish line, did you see the guy in the all in one union jack suit, Gendarmes stopped him straight away and made him sit down till the broom wagon passed.0 -
I'm relatively new to road cycling so this year was a first visit to watch the tour with mates who have been before.
We were watching Stg 19 on Alpe d'Huez and were just after Dutch Corner. I have to say, the atmosphere was brilliant with most behaving well if a little boisterious at times (before the race arrived i must stress).
When the riders apeared, yes everyone was close but i only seen lots of cheering and encouragement for everyone. Being amongst a large Dutch contingent, when the Rabobank team passed through, it was especially raucous! And i'm sure if you ask Laurens Ten Dam what he thought he would have had nothing but praise as he was having a ball! Only one instance of bad sportmanship I feel occured when a Rabo rider got a helping hand for 20 yds from a spectator. This was met with complaints from the rider following, so parity was restored when the same guy ran back and gave him a shove!
As I said, my first time, but I was aware of what was and wasn't accepted etiqutte when spectating and I feel 99% were the same (even after a skinful for some!)
Can't wait till next year!
My mates also felt that compared to last year when they took in the Col de Madelaine, it was much better this year.
And I agree with a poster earlier, football strip wearers shouldn't be allowed to run alongside (especailly wearers of the green and grey hooped horrors!)
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I've often wondered why ASO or the Gendarmerie havn't cracked down on this before it gets out of hand, a stage result is affected, or a rider injured. If they were football supporters they'd be dealt with quickly enough...
And I've spotted some union flags among the rabble, how long will it be before the brits disgrace themsleves as well? Not long I fear...0 -
Indeed, why wait for something bad to happen when you can assume it's going to happen based on years of it not happening. This potentially dangerous behaviour must be dealt with immediately! It's not as if the spectators add anything to the sport.0
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I did see the Police guys grabbing a couple of the runners this year.0
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thegibdog wrote:Indeed, why wait for something bad to happen when you can assume it's going to happen based on years of it not happening. This potentially dangerous behaviour must be dealt with immediately! It's not as if the spectators add anything to the sport.
+1 There must be health and Safety fears as well. I think they should look to line the whole course with barriers and/or police.
Come to think about it, why dont they make people buy tickets to watch?
As for letting the Brits watch, we all know our own nation is pure scum. Ban them (us) all...0 -
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CyclingBantam wrote:thegibdog wrote:Indeed, why wait for something bad to happen when you can assume it's going to happen based on years of it not happening. This potentially dangerous behaviour must be dealt with immediately! It's not as if the spectators add anything to the sport.
+1 There must be health and Safety fears as well. I think they should look to line the whole course with barriers and/or police.
Come to think about it, why dont they make people buy tickets to watch?
As for letting the Brits watch, we all know our own nation is pure scum. Ban them (us) all...
I don't think anyone is advocating any close to your scenario, but saying that just because a certain minority of fans has always been abusive and crazy, we should leave well alone. Of course the likes of Jens Voigt are going to be more relaxed, they have nothing to ride for by such a stage. The main GC riders or guys going for the stage win, however, have a very different attitute. And rightly so.0 -
So let's let the fans stand at the trackside at F1, athletics, football...0
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We were between bends 14 and 13 and the police weren't mucking about there, they grappled one runner to the side and grabbed another Spanish Contador runner fan and told him, do it again and you’re a gonner.
TBH we had a great bunch around us and the police seemed very in control, mind you a few less fans were on that section.
I must admit I got the feeling there were more people there with the intent to 'join in' then when we were there in 2008.
Soon it will look like the top of the Zoncolan if people don't start behaving:
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