Spectators Running Alongside Riders on Climbs

[7starz]

You guys have no sense of history. Fans have been beating, spitting on, throwing beer at and generally being ***holes since the inception of cycling as a sport.

This is nothing new.

edit: and for the illiterate I am not condoning it just telling you how it is.

Too true! It's always terrifying to watch on those climbs, TV watchers' BP must be rising, let alone the riders!

Thanks all for the many LOL comments, particularly like the cattle prod for the fatties who I also long to see splat face first - so long as no riders fall!! Remember seeing Pantani punch a guy in a Red Indian headdress, was it the 1998 Tour?

 

[podilato]

It now seems no longer fine just to stand and cheer. This Youtube generation now think they have to run next to riders like idiots dressed as Elvis, the Pope, Borat, a nun, in nappies etc.

I think that soon the Girls Gone Wild franchise will start filming during Tour mountain stages with girls lifting their tops, dancing naked when the riders pass or even perfoming sex acts.

 

[Futuroscope]

guerini

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92xoz4OflxQ

 

[Animal]

Maybe part of the caravan should be a vehicle reminding spectators to respect the riders' personal space.

 

[Papparrazzi]

Can we get something done about that jackass with the huge antlers and even larger Texas flag? It is only a matter of time before he trips and puts the horns or flag pole through someone's wheel.

This guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb9wY7wkcbc

 

[thebunk]

I agree that the runners can be pretty annoying, but at least in Europe they seem to be cheering on the riders for the most part....

However, does anyone remember the climbs in the tour of California this year? There were so many people running IN FRONT of the riders. That really got me ****ed off - people weren't even there to support the riders, they just wanted to get on tv and to see if they can outrun the pros. Look at me mom! I'm about to get run over by Lance!

 

[benpounder]

I agree that the runners can be pretty annoying, but at least in Europe they seem to be cheering on the riders for the most part....

However, does anyone remember the climbs in the tour of California this year? There were so many people running IN FRONT of the riders. That really got me ****ed off - people weren't even there to support the riders, they just wanted to get on tv and to see if they can outrun the pros. Look at me mom! I'm about to get run over by Lance!

That is pure bunk. I saw plenty of folks running with the likely live camera in mind.

 

[danyela]

Running with the riders is all part of cycling, but what really ****es me off is when they go in front or too close to the riders.

An option could be to have a snowplough-type lead car to just push everyone out of the way - I think that way the message would get through pretty fast - but we already saw on I think the stage to Verbier when AC attacked and he had to ease up for a second because the moto was right in front of him.

 

[badboyberty]

How about an agricultural suggestion, electric fences. Not as in your face as 6 foot wire mesh barricades but bloody effective.

 

[joe_papp]

SPECTATORS at the Tour (especially the Runners in the MTNs) - double-edged sword

Resurrecting this thread after a crash-marred first week of the 2012 Tour (though I'm not able to link the crashes to the runners, although at least one pile-up was precipitated by a clueless fan trying to take a picture of the peloton as it raced past at 65kph) ...

I'm still rabidly anti-runner, especially when they're running alongside the riders on climbs that have crowd barriers on at least one of the two sides, and the majority of the fans remain respectfully and demurely behind the barrier(s), save for the moronical runner(s) who decide that the mountains of the Tour are really their stage - and not the riders' - for them to display their impressive skillz.

Good though to see some riders fighting back at least, whacking the fools or (I imagine) in the case of the Italians at least, shouting "Vaffanculo!" And respect to Bauke Mollema, whose suave yet declarative response to a non-boorish female runner on stage 7 was ideal for the situation. While she definitely targeted the Rabobank rider, I'd classify her as a non-boor runner, as she was enthusiastic and seemingly positive, But, rider's rules, and as soon as she began to trot alongside #153, he gave her "The Hand" and she stopped dead in her tracks. Should be the model for future rider-runner interactions that don't require the closed-fist. Diagram below.

(original image here: http://twitpic.com/a5h9dp)

The scenario begins evolving around 9:50, here:

http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/...on-integra-planche-des-belles-filles/1457547/

I hold to my original contention, that it's better to drive motorcycles into/over all the obnoxious runners rather than permit these few (possibly) drunk, boorish fans to ruin the reputation of those who would run elegantly and respectfully alongside their heroes (or villains), w/o invading their personal space or screaming unintelligibly into the riders' ears.

(original image here: http://twitpic.com/a5gis3/full)

Here's an example of how to properly spectate in the mountains:

(No comment on the stationary (??) and senile old man on the left side of the road today who allegedly had a hand - or foot - in bringing down Sammy Sanchez and ruining his Tour and his Olympic title defense...)

See old guy in chair w/ a Basque upon him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a575kuPAIHU

Quoting Cyclingnews:

"The crash took place in the 60th kilometre of racing on stage eight on a short uphill section, and initial reports say it was apparently caused by a elderly male spectator sitting at a table too far out in the road. Team-mate Jorge Azanza - who was mainly responsible for protecting Sánchez in the pack - tried to avoid the spectator, who was moving out of the way at speed, but instead ended up colliding with him, with Valverde slamming into Azanza and Sánchez crashing into the two Spaniards, and somersaulting into the tarmac. Valverde was able to continue, but Sánchez injuries were too serious for the 34-year-old to follow suit, and he abandoned in tears."

 

[Magnus]

I seriously can't see how the old man is a problem. Off course the footage doesn't really shows what happened but it seems like it would be very hard for him to stick anything out on the road.

 

[T-Nielsen]

The old man seems to be in the side of the road and only getting into contact when they fall upon him.

 

[joe_papp]

The old man seems to be in the side of the road and only getting into contact when they fall upon him.

I seriously can't see how the old man is a problem. Off course the footage doesn't really shows what happened but it seems like it would be very hard for him to stick anything out on the road.

Yeah I don't really know what he could've done, since he was stationary, whereas the cyclingnews report has him scampering across the road, if I read it right... It's actually contradictory:

"elderly male spectator sitting at a table" vs.
"the spectator, who was moving out of the way at speed"

does not compute.

Anyway, like I said, no real comment on the old guy, since it's hard to say what his involvement in the crash really was, but garrr! every time I see the annoying, boorish runners I silently will the tormented rider(s) to simply flatten them.

What though, no comment on my diagram? I worked hard on that! lol

 

[The Joker]

I have often wondered, as I watch drunk fans either running alongside the riders on the climbs, or crowding right in on the riders and giving them no space, what if one of the riders in the group wanted to attack at that point? They wouldnt be able to, would they?

Quite often the drunks crowd around the riders so tightly that if you tried to pull out from behind the rider in front, and dance on the pedals, you wouldn't be able to because some drunk would be blocking you in as he runs alongside you in his mankini.

It must be very frustrating as a climber going for a stage win / GC contender, to find yourself feeling good, to be sensing that your opponent just ahead of you is weak and at his limit, and thinking I'm going to attack here, but then not being able to do so because of drunks. By the time the road has cleared to enable you to attack (usually where the barriers are), the other guy has probably recovered and your chance has passed...

 

[Boostland]

(No comment on the stationary (??) and senile old man on the left side of the road today who allegedly had a hand - or foot - in bringing down Sammy Sanchez and ruining his Tour and his Olympic title defense...)

Or was it a walking stick, you can see Jorge throw it away from his front wheel after he stops suddenly.

 

[dsut4392]

What though, no comment on my diagram? I worked hard on that! lol

Your diagram isn't working for me, comes up as a broken link...might explain the lack of comments?

 

[MD FACG FACP]

This was really a problem last year at The Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado. I waited about an hour on the road, only to have runners (idiots) block my view as the riders passed me. I had to move out of the way toward the side of the road to not be run into. I'm not moving this year, I just hope the guy doesn't go flying into the Peloton...lol.

 

[yourwelcome]

I'd love one of the drunk runners to take down an angry Jens Voigt. Not hard enough to hurt of course - just enough to get him fired up.

Antler guy would be very high on my wishlist ;-)

 

[joe_papp]

Let me know if you can see the images now?

Your diagram isn't working for me, comes up as a broken link...might explain the lack of comments?

(original image here: http://twitpic.com/a5h9dp)

The scenario begins evolving around 9:50, here:

http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/...on-integra-planche-des-belles-filles/1457547/

I hold to my original contention, that it's better to drive motorcycles into/over all the obnoxious runners rather than permit these few (possibly) drunk, boorish fans to ruin the reputation of those who would run elegantly and respectfully alongside their heroes (or villains), w/o invading their personal space or screaming unintelligibly into the riders' ears.

(original image here: http://twitpic.com/a5gis3/full)

 

[RedheadDane]

First of all; I like you diagram!


About the runners. My reaction is always: "HIT 'EM!!!" And (to the morrons who run in front of the riders looking uphill towards the camera) "The riders are behind you. ****ing drunk morron!!!!


About the old man. I don't think he was to blame, rather the fools who just left him there were.
Saw an interview with Jens Voigt a while ago where he talked about spectators, and the leaving of defenseless people (little kids and people in wheelchairs) too close to the road. I think the words he used was "Mum. Dad. What am I doing here?"
Also bringing dogs... I'm pretty sure dogs don't appreciate that.

 

[movingtarget]

First of all; I like you diagram!


About the runners. My reaction is always: "HIT 'EM!!!" And (to the morrons who run in front of the riders looking uphill towards the camera) "The riders are behind you. ****ing drunk morron!!!!


About the old man. I don't think he was to blame, rather the fools who just left him there were.
Saw an interview with Jens Voigt a while ago where he talked about spectators, and the leaving of defenseless people (little kids and people in wheelchairs) too close to the road. I think the words he used was "Mum. Dad. What am I doing here?"
Also bringing dogs... I'm pretty sure dogs don't appreciate that.

Maybe someone could have suggested that he should movie back a metre or so. Very unfortunate accident for everyone involved. Saw a naked guy running along the road in the Tour of California. Did not seem to be drunk. Just very very happy. Some of the Americans are like the Dutch without booze. Not sure what they are on. Why would anyone take a dog to a bike race ? Some are not even leashed. The worst are the amteur photographers that stand in the road and the runners who can't run and start tripping over themselves. The motorbikes usually work well for crowd control but sometimes one will go under the wheels simply by not moving back off the road. The carnival of nutjobs.

 

[joe_papp]

...About the runners. My reaction is always: "HIT 'EM!!!"...

I think the riders should be absolutely allowed/permitted to punch, push or throw water bottles at these runners. I'm sure it'd only be a matter of time before a rider was either sued by some idiot runner or had assault charges filed against them by the idiotic runners. It'd be like the scenario where the criminal fleeing police in a high-speed chase crashes his car and kills some folks and injures himself and then tries to sue the police and the family of the dead innocents he killed, when he should've just pulled-over in the first place. The runners are like that fleeing criminal: they shouldn't be running in the first place, but guaranteed that the first one of them who either knocks down a rider and ruins his Tour and career and is sued, or who falls under the wheels of a motorbike and dies will be the one to deny responsibility for their actions and counter-sue the organizers or the rider(s) or the moto-pilot, etc...so annoying.

 

[RedheadDane]

I think the riders should be absolutely allowed/permitted to punch, push or throw water bottles at these runners.

Allowed to? They should get an extra prize for doing it!

 

[Warhawk]

Allowed to? They should get an extra prize for doing it!

There should be a purple jersey for most black eyes inflicted.

 

[Armanius]

During today's ITT, I was getting pretty worried at the crowd on the uphill just before the hairpin turn and before the first time check. It wasn't so much the runners that worried me, but the people who step in the middle of the ever narrowing road to take photos, and then don't move out of the way. A few of the riders today had to swerve around those people who would not move.