Drunk, stupid, attention seeking fans. What to do?

[Buffalo Soldier]

This is what happened last friday on a big cross race:
http://youtu.be/WxgEF-t44gc?t=35s
(For those who don't follow cx, the Belgian Champion you see is Sven Nys, a living legend, maybe the best ever)

But of course there's tons of examples of road races too.

Leif Hoste in Roubaix 2004
http://youtu.be/eTlCYFZsZ3U?t=1m55s

Guerini tdf 1999
http://youtu.be/4dBvJkqv0DM?t=4m55s

Nelissen 1994
http://youtu.be/SNE5b6W-Wks

I took this 'older' examples to show it's not a new thing.
But what is definitely getting worse, is the crowd on the mountain stages.
Compilation vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQgWWceYwbY

I it's safe to say this is a problem in cycling. But how to deal with it? In football they can ban supporters from the stadium. The can give huge fines to streakers, etc. Also, they have the possibility to put stewards and police every 2 meters in the stadium. Road cycling is raced on public roads, over more than 200 kilometers.
And I think even if it would be possible to put a police officer every 3 meters on the course (which it isn't), I don't think doing that would be a good evolution for the sport, and the viewing experience.

But what else is there? How can we educate the fans?

 

[theyoungest]

Let's hope with the current problems in cycling that the Dutch 'fans' will stay away from the Alpe d'Huez stage in the Tour... that's one problem solved

 

[Libertine Seguros]

On Arrate in the Vuelta there were police every few metres, who wouldn't let us see anything, until we decided that as we weren't allowed to see anything we'd seek another vantage point, so we went a little closer to the summit and found no police at all. Very odd.

I think a problem is that a lot of new fans who see this think that it's all part of the fun rather than an annoyance, so feel like they should be part of it, especially when certain constant characters crop up often enough that everybody knows who they are, like Didi the Devil and American Antler Football Helmet Guy.

 

[Ferminal]

Biggest problem are the Zonc and Angliru pushers.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Hang them!!!!

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Hang them!!!!

Come on hanging is so last century, shoot them, far more efficient.


Seriously though, it should be so simple, riders on the road and spectators on the side of the road. However spectators can be too stupid and some riders (Langeveld) need to learn to stick to that as well.
If barriers are put up then some of a wide road can be given to spectators but spectators should STAY BEHIND THE BARRIERS.

 

[DominicDecoco]

We are lucky that this sport invites the audience to be so close to the action. I really don't think the problem is that big considering how many people there are out there on the side of the roads.

That said, it's not something, obviously, that can be completely ignored. Sepctators running in Batman costumes alongside the riders is an issue.

But is the problem really that serious? I don't think so.

 

[Arnout]

It's a societal problem. Can't be solved.

 

[movingtarget]

All team cars should carry tasers.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

This is what happened last friday on a big cross race:
http://youtu.be/WxgEF-t44gc?t=35s
(For those who don't follow cx, the Belgian Champion you see is Sven Nys, a living legend, maybe the best ever)

But of course there's tons of examples of road races too.

CX could easily be controlled if they had meaningful security on site. It won't happen, though.

Road cycling is a different animal... not much you can do.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Drunk, stupid, attention seeking fans. What to do?

ban then from this forum (although it would get quiet)

 

[will10]

It's a societal problem. Can't be solved.

Basically this.

 

[oldcrank]

Don't know about cyclo-cross, maybe take their cow-bells
away for a first infraction, but for the Grand Tours the
organisers should hire Adrien Hillairet to drive a lead-car
but instead of his France2TV Citroen give him a Hummer.

 

[Afrank]

The pro's just need to pick up a video of "Chris Horner's Cyclocross Essentials" and learn some crowd control.

Or just go the Contador route and punch them when they get too close, that's just as effective.

Or this

All team cars should carry tasers.

 

[al_pacino]

Until they find a cure for idiocy this will continue to happen.

maybe you could hand a few day-glow jackets to some fans and call them stewards and that may keep a few in line.

 

[Xavier.Lopez]

Don't know about cyclo-cross, maybe take their cow-bells
away for a first infraction, but for the Grand Tours the
organisers should hire Adrien Hillairet to drive a lead-car
but instead of his France2TV Citroen give him a Hummer.

Oh thanks, I didn't know the driver's name...

Leif Hoste, Guerrini and co, it wasn't exactly the same problem than the one with Sven Nijs, here the drunk guy trew a beer on him, it's made with a real purpose (even if he was drunk).

 

[burning]

Arm the rider's jersey with electric stuff, so anyone who touches the riders will get shocked

or killing them is the easier choice probably

 

[Izzy eviel]

To be fair the Guerini incident was more of a dumb accident rather then a malicious act.

In the case of Nys, the fans should've done something.

 

[theyoungest]

It's a societal problem. Can't be solved.

Yes, I regularly get glasses of beer thrown at me while shopping, riding on my commute, working, etc.

Sports attract morons. Classical music doesn't, for instance.

 

[Arnout]

Yes, I regularly get glasses of beer thrown at me while shopping, riding on my commute, working, etc.

Sports attract morons. Classical music doesn't, for instance.

That's because there is sports. If there's something else, like Facebook parties or firework or something similar, they will go there. Can't solve it without making life unbearable for the rest of us (by which I mean constant police controls and massive tax increases to pay for the policing needed to solve the effects of the lack of decency in society).

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, I regularly get glasses of beer thrown at me while shopping, riding on my commute, working, etc.

Sports attract morons. Classical music doesn't, for instance.

How much beer do they sell at a concert for classical music?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

The pro's just need to pick up a video of "Chris Horner's Cyclocross Essentials" and learn some crowd control.

It's funny, since they call it Erwin Vervecken's crowd Control, while showing a picture of Wellens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPJeXkaC1dM

 

[Dazed and Confused]

This is what happened last friday on a big cross race:
http://youtu.be/WxgEF-t44gc?t=35s
(For those who don't follow cx, the Belgian Champion you see is Sven Nys, a living legend, maybe the best ever)

The beer must have been really bad.

Core fans and TV commentators must continue to ridicule these clowns. Won't solve the problem, but perhaps keep the size of the mob a bit in check.

 

[shades1]

in a sport where there are hundreds of thousands of fans lining the roads there are very few actual incidents to be fair , i agree some do get slightly excitable at times but its very rare that they do any harm to any of the riders .

there is something very special about the riders going through those close walls of spectators especially when they are climbing , personally i would not like to see it changed .

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

True, but there's no need for a bunch of naked men following the riders for 2km along the climb.
There's too much clowns on the roads these days