Cycling "fans"

psittacosis
psittacosis Posts: 97
edited July 2015 in Pro race
Anyone else see Froome being spat on today ? So he has had urine and now spit.
Some "fans" are a waste of skin.
Running next to the riders , screaming , taking selfies with their back to the race. Waving flags , nobody cares about you, your flag and your attention seeking. P*ss off back under your stone
Disrespectful tw@ts .

Comments

  • shortcuts
    shortcuts Posts: 366
    Anyone else see Froome being spat on today ? So he has had urine and now spit.
    Some "fans" are a waste of skin.
    Running next to the riders , screaming , taking selfies with their back to the race. Waving flags , nobody cares about you, your flag and your attention seeking. P*ss off back under your stone
    Disrespectful tw@ts .
    Agree.
  • ascurrell
    ascurrell Posts: 1,739
    Couldn't agree more !!
  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    Perhaps you could find a French forum to post this on? Tw@s.
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    Completely agree with the being spat on comment. Also the running next to the riders.

    But flag waving? Screaming (usually encouragement)? Taking photos?

    Do you have any idea the amount of effort it takes to get to watch a stage in the Alps? and the amount of waiting around (I've waited for 12 hours over the last two days and ended up seeing about 5 mins of racing in total - loved every minute of it though)? If fans aren't able to enjoy themselves and get a little excited when the race comes through it would be a big shame.

    Although maybe I should be careful saying that when the Alpe is tomorrow - it could be carnage up there!
  • Yes of course encourage the riders , but not get in the road and scream in their faces and wave flags like a matador whipping them away at the last second. The race is about the riders not about "fans"
  • andrewjoseph
    andrewjoseph Posts: 2,165
    and yet the riders didn't particularly like the 'lacete' climb when there were no fans. no atmosphere.
    --
    Burls Ti Tourer for Tarmac, Saracen aluminium full suss for trails
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
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  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    Yes of course encourage the riders , but not get in the road and scream in their faces and wave flags like a matador whipping them away at the last second. The race is about the riders not about "fans"

    That is complete rubbish. This race is all about the spectators and fans. the race is a means to an end and has been ever since its inception to help sell newspapers.

    I have no issue with the screaming and flag waving but i wouldn't want that to physically affect the race. In these forums we hear all the time about them being tougher than footballers and gladiators etc etc Well today is the day when they enter the colosseum its no time to get shy.
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,712
    Old folk said this would happen when cycling went mainstream.
  • the race is all about the fans
    you're off your head. I'm not interested in watching fat sunburt morons in mankinis , you obviously are
  • LeePaton
    LeePaton Posts: 353
    Okay remove all the fans. See how long it lasts.
    It's not so much about winning, I just hate losing.
  • davidof
    davidof Posts: 3,032
    In these forums we hear all the time about them being tougher than footballers and gladiators etc etc Well today is the day when they enter the colosseum its no time to get shy.

    Tougher than gladiators? Didn't at least 50% die during a games?
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  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    the race is all about the fans
    you're off your head. I'm not interested in watching fat sunburt morons in mankinis , you obviously are

    I think you mistake those watching on TV and those watching live by the roadside.

    Try going to a race live. Each supporter is in a world of their own, encouraging on the riders to do their best, I wasn't looking at who was running, who had a flag and who was dressed in a mankini. On Thursday I was shouting my head off encouraging Froome on the final climb as he went past, within a couple of seconds he'd gone - I was shouting my head off to encourage Contador (then the next rider etc..) - in the internet and TV world this doesn't happen, you have your favourite and that is that.

    I went to my first tour in 2008. You could wander around the team buses before and after the race without any bother (you still can at other races). This year everything is fenced off, with priority given to those who have been invited by sponsors. You can still get close, but it's already less accessible than in the past. I always hate comparisons to football (being a football fan too), but cycling is starting to go down this route a bit more and taking things away from the fan. Cycling is a much better sport to watch on TV to see the race as it is, the fans on the road waiting for hours to catch a few seconds glimpse deserve to have their fun and get excited so long as it is respectful and doesn't effect the race.

    Besides without excited fans we wouldn't have witnessed such things as this...

    ku-xlarge.gif
  • mfin
    mfin Posts: 6,729
    As sickening as it is, I don't think abusive, aggressive fans are anywhere near as much of a problem as non-french fans using words like chapeau or allez.
  • RoadPainter
    RoadPainter Posts: 375
    the race is all about the fans
    you're off your head. I'm not interested in watching fat sunburt morons in mankinis , you obviously are

    I think you mistake those watching on TV and those watching live by the roadside.

    Try going to a race live. Each supporter is in a world of their own, encouraging on the riders to do their best, I wasn't looking at who was running, who had a flag and who was dressed in a mankini. On Thursday I was shouting my head off encouraging Froome on the final climb as he went past, within a couple of seconds he'd gone - I was shouting my head off to encourage Contador (then the next rider etc..) - in the internet and TV world this doesn't happen, you have your favourite and that is that.

    I went to my first tour in 2008. You could wander around the team buses before and after the race without any bother (you still can at other races). This year everything is fenced off, with priority given to those who have been invited by sponsors. You can still get close, but it's already less accessible than in the past. I always hate comparisons to football (being a football fan too), but cycling is starting to go down this route a bit more and taking things away from the fan. Cycling is a much better sport to watch on TV to see the race as it is, the fans on the road waiting for hours to catch a few seconds glimpse deserve to have their fun and get excited so long as it is respectful and doesn't effect the race.

    Besides without excited fans we wouldn't have witnessed such things as this...

    ku-xlarge.gif

    Well said. The commercialisation of the Tour is a key reason I now prefer the Giro. Just a shame there's no caravane (going to a stall several times at the Giro isn't ss fun as catching stuff)
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    the race is all about the fans
    you're off your head. I'm not interested in watching fat sunburt morons in mankinis , you obviously are

    I think you mistake those watching on TV and those watching live by the roadside.

    Try going to a race live. Each supporter is in a world of their own, encouraging on the riders to do their best, I wasn't looking at who was running, who had a flag and who was dressed in a mankini. On Thursday I was shouting my head off encouraging Froome on the final climb as he went past, within a couple of seconds he'd gone - I was shouting my head off to encourage Contador (then the next rider etc..) - in the internet and TV world this doesn't happen, you have your favourite and that is that.

    I went to my first tour in 2008. You could wander around the team buses before and after the race without any bother (you still can at other races). This year everything is fenced off, with priority given to those who have been invited by sponsors. You can still get close, but it's already less accessible than in the past. I always hate comparisons to football (being a football fan too), but cycling is starting to go down this route a bit more and taking things away from the fan. Cycling is a much better sport to watch on TV to see the race as it is, the fans on the road waiting for hours to catch a few seconds glimpse deserve to have their fun and get excited so long as it is respectful and doesn't effect the race.

    Besides without excited fans we wouldn't have witnessed such things as this...

    ku-xlarge.gif

    Well said. The commercialisation of the Tour is a key reason I now prefer the Giro. Just a shame there's no caravane (going to a stall several times at the Giro isn't ss fun as catching stuff)

    There's much to be said about fighting it out with a French housewife over a washing powder sample or a trolley token. They are a formidable foe.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    The Tour de France has been mainstream and commercialised for many, many decades
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,249
    The Tour has always been a bit grotesque.

    Is part of the charm.
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    The Tour de France has been mainstream and commercialised for many, many decades
    The Tour has always been a bit grotesque.

    Is part of the charm.

    Both of these ^^^ There's nothing quite like going to see The Tour.
    Ben

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  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    The Tour de France has been mainstream and commercialised for many, many decades
    What makes it special is, It's a Carnival and the Commercial Caravan has paid it's Due's since the war ended.
    The increasing performing Morons (for TV) became more international with the USA fans arriving in Droves.
    A couple of years of that rubish meant it was time to go elsewhere for me.
    I did return to d'Huez for the Time Trial though.
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    The Tour de France has been mainstream and commercialised for many, many decades

    That is true, but it's also become less accessible in even fewer years.
  • RoadPainter
    RoadPainter Posts: 375
    The Tour de France has been mainstream and commercialised for many, many decades

    That is true, but it's also become less accessible in even fewer years.
    So much is fenced off now - crazy sized areas were fenced off in St Jean de Maurienne for the start. The Giro strikes a better balance IMO.

    But the Tour is the Tour so I'll not stop going!