Spectators on mountain roads

jonny_trousers

As a relative newcomer to watching pro cycling, please, somebody tell me the answer to something I've been wondering for some time: is it me or are there far too many complete and utter bell-ends among the spectators on mountain roads? I can't think of anything you would want less when you've been in the saddle for four hours, sweating blood with your legs turned to jelly, than some pot-bellied, f*ckwit in speedos and trainers running along side you and shouting words of encouragement in your ear. What about people patting you on the arse, or holding out their oversized flags so that you think they will be sucked into your spokes at any moment? And as for the ones who clearly think it's perfectly ok to stand in the way if a lovely photograph to show their mates is the end result...

Am I missing something? Do these people add to the spirit of it all? Is it just the kind of morale boosting you need when you're close to the edge? Or are they just the disrespectful, selfish toss-pots I imagine them to be?

emadden

Its part and parcel of the race, and to be honest adds atmosphere... Yes there are some bell-end who behave like complete pillocks and unfortunatly you tend to see them go crazy with the first few lead riders, but the majority of "runners" are not a hindrance, and are not seen as a hindrance by riders. Riders will often telling you that guys running along side can motivate the rider... But the guys who run with stupid flags, naked, or bull horns on their helmets, steak on a fishing line are all seen for what they are: idiots and dont help.

Admittedly, they can add colour, but frequently they become annoying...

I'll give you a few examples of how the riders appreciate it:

(a) Alpe d'Huez last year - Bend 5 had a group of about twenty guys all dressed into costumes ranging from chickens and cows to spider man and cat women last year... As the riders came by, you could see them all smiling and some of them waving.. That happened from about 15th place back... The guys that went through first of course didnt notice... Later in the race each of these ran next to riders and the riders were asking questions like how far back am I, whose just ahead etc.

(b) Mortirolo this year - A group of five guys dressed as clowns and with an air raid warning siren that needed to be wound-up by hand... There were in the last km on the climb. One of them pushed Cunego and he lashed out.... From about that point on they ran beside about 90 riders... a huge number of them were laughing (f you can believe that on the mortirolo)... Most of the riders got a push too and almost all accepted very willingly except for cameron meyer who freaked out a bit

(c) Alpe di Pampeago this year - Towards the top lots of runners pushing riders and talking (shouting to them) as they ran along side... Riders were given pushes, cans of coke and you could hear plenty of "grazie"'s

In each of these three stages the number of fans was enormous and there was the odd pillock, but by and large having these energetic fans adds to the excitement of watching the race on a mountain

TMR

I agree with the OP, I've always hated it. There are some real dicks on mountain stages. If I had my way the areas where the public congregate would be fenced off to prevent them getting on the road at all. The riders should not have to contend with idiots getting in their way; why they can't just stand off the road and support the riders is beyond me.

yourpaceormine

If you are wondering why some are more than overenthusiastic then might I suggest you read Ned Boulting's Yellow Jumper book

ALaPlage

Having been a Spectator on a roadside mountain stage I can only agree with the comments about the "few" idiots. Not only do they potentially interfere with the riders but they have no thought for other spectators who having spent many hours waiting for their cycling hero to pass by get their moment spoilt by some overweight lard a*se in a mankini crossing in front as they pass.

That said the atmosphere is great all day and builds to a high level as the riders start arriving. Lots of comraderie between people of all nations with a common love of cycling and Le Tour. Part of the excitement and difference is that you get so close and I for one wouldnt want to change that as it is part of what makes cycle racing special.

As long as Spectators understand their responsibilities to the riders and their fellow spectators it is a tradition that should continue and the odd idiot adds a little extra colour too. Generally incidents are quite rare in the grand scheme of things and against the numbers of people watching along the routes it becomes a tiny, tiny percentage

emadden

+1 Have met some great people around bonfires and BBQs whilst camping out... Highly recommended if you've not done it!

emadden

Crazy fans on the mountains are not new:









Some more funny pics :-)

Le Commentateur

BelgianBeerGeek

It's simply too big a phenomenon to stop. Yes there are some idiots but many are just soaking up the atmosphere. For some it's an annual pilgrimage. It only becomes really distasteful when some "fans" scream abuse or spit at riders.
I'm not sure you could fence off every mile of the route anyway.

t.m.h.n.e.t

Quite a few riders complained yesterday and rightly so. Interesting that vehicles were banned from the route - if only overexcited crowds were as easy to deal with when billions worth of cycling industry passes through.

Yellow Peril

It's part of the race, no fans no race. It would be a tedious spectacle on TV with lonely empty roads. Yes some fans do take it a step too far, I don't think they are the real race fans.

Remember the giant syringe chasing Armstrong down the road! Oh how we laughed.

jonny_trousers

Yellow Peril wrote:

It's part of the race, no fans no race. It would be a tedious spectacle on TV with lonely empty roads. Yes some fans do take it a step too far, I don't think they are the real race fans.

Remember the giant syringe chasing Armstrong down the road! Oh how we laughed.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the spectators and would love to experience the atmosphere for myself one day. It's the way it's almost acceptable for a certain type of attention seeker to get right in the faces of the poor buggers just trying to succeed in their race that I don't get.

Le Commentateur

A fair number appear to be American, e.g.

Pross

The new bit that annoys me is people running alongside with massive flags. Do they not realise the implications of one catching in a wheel? The riders seem to really hate it.

blackhands

Sometimes they are just trying to give the riders a little help - like this fella with LA

ddraver

Oh come now emadden, the steak guy was brilliant!! Even Harmon and Kelly tittered a bit....

ms_tree

They've caused a few accidents this year already on the flatter stages. I was cringing a bit today on the TT as people kept stepping into the road. I think it was the Tour a couple of years ago when one of the police motorbike riders grabbed a particularly annoying guy and threw him into the ditch. And as for the 'pants and no pants' lot. Please - it put me off my breakfast during California.

verylonglegs

I often wonder if they prevent riders attacking when the gap between the two sides of spectators can be barely enough for 1 at a time. I don't recall any riders saying this though so maybe it's just how it looks to me on the tv.

luckao

emadden wrote:

The only good thing about Lance's comeback.

MrTapir

Pross wrote:

The new bit that annoys me is people running alongside with massive flags. Do they not realise the implications of one catching in a wheel? The riders seem to really hate it.

YES. I saw an Astana rider - i can't recall whom - almost get taken out by a complete numpty waving a big flag the other day. The best bit though was the rider squirted this idiot with his bottle. I enjoyed that.

I thought the steak guy in the giro last year was great, very amusing. And who was the man with the horns? I seem to remember him popping up on one race on most stages

Stone Glider

IIRC in the 2009 TdF Mr Wiggins had an irritating tick running beside him waving a large Norwegian flag. It was steep and our hero was working hard to stay with the leaders, the last thing he needed was this distraction / risk. As they passed some camper vans Mr Wiggins gave a well timed shove and said tick disappeared between them

Anyone remember it? or was it me getting confused :?

luckao

I remember it. It was on the Ventoux, right?

nferrar

Flags, shouting in ears and muppets standing in the middle of the road taking photos are the main problems, most of the rest is just all part of the fun of mountain stages