Spectators Running Alongside Riders on Climbs

[neineinei]

I must admit I laugh when one of them falls or are pulled into the crowd abruptly. The running bottle is ok. He runs slowly and is careful. Maybe because he knows that if he falls he will roll all the way to the foot of the mountain.

 

[joe_papp]

Well it finally happened

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012...adley-wiggins-hit-by-flare-in-stage-12_229610

Peloton retaliates after Bradley Wiggins hit by flare in stage 12

"...Wiggins later quipped that the flare-throwers, who had been running alongside the peloton as they raced to the finish, might have come off worse than he did after riders retaliated by throwing water bottles.

“I’m covered in all this yellow stuff,” said Wiggins, referring to the powder that comes off flares.

“I got hit in the arm with a flare, burnt my arm a bit, but it’s all right. It’s pretty dangerous, and I’m sure them guys are nursing a few wounds tonight because there were quite a few bottles in their direction.”

 

[Gloin22]

Joke. Did police do something about it ?

That's basically an assault on riders, one moment and something tragic could have happen ...

 

[stampedingviking]

Joke. Did police do something about it ?

That's basically an assault on riders, one moment and something tragic could have happen ...

Don't worry, it happened to a Sky rider, probably planned by a few posters on here.































Jk before anyone cries.

 

[zapata]

The worst are the ones that run looking in the camera on the motorcycle, waving like imbeciles, instead of watching the riders.Why are they even there? Do they hike up a mountain in order to be on tv for two seconds?

 

[joe_papp]

Good Thread, thanks Joe Papp...And then these nude w..kers... Human stupidity has no limits it seems sometimes. Such a pity for such a great sport. And in addition as you mentioned, ruining the tv coverage pictures.

The worst are the ones that run looking in the camera on the motorcycle, waving like imbeciles, instead of watching the riders.Why are they even there? Do they hike up a mountain in order to be on tv for two seconds?

Right and you're welcome. This was what catalyzed my response a few years ago - that they were so obviously doing it just to get on TV for their own egos, in contrast to the Devil - who might still derive an ego-benefit - but who became part of the backdrop of the race, and didn't try to compete with it.

Meanwhile:
- @ Joe: +1 thanks for bringing this thread back...I've really been noticing it this year, I'd definitely say it's gotten worse compared to say, a few years ago...
- @ a real way to stop this? i think more barriers, and i saw in the giro a year or two ago, the local italian 'gendarmes' were all lined up forming a barrier, and were actively stopping/holding back idiots on the climbs...but i agree with Joe, ASO won't do anything til it's too late.

Again, you're welcome but thank you for chiming in and voicing your concerns. Until both viewers at home and the riders start to complain and react, ASO won't have motivation to act...though you could argue that if the Yellow Jersey was burned by flares today, the time to act has already passed and they are too late.

I remember the stage of the Giro you refer to though I don't remember exactly which it was. Perhaps it will have to be like the fight against doping - gov't will have to become involved and criminalize the behavior (or at least put some penalty in place against it) since people are obviously unwilling to police themselves. Obviously it was hyperbole what I said initially that the RUNNERS should be RUN-DOWN or RUN-OVER, but I would absolutely support their being fined and/or arrested - or even whapped in the head w/ a baton. I know it would be a huge logistical challenge and cost money, but if the Yellow Jersey is burned by flares held by RUNNERS, one could argue that the problem is out-of-control.

 

[patrick767]

Regrettably, I do not think the ASO will take serious action until there is a high-profile incident in the mountains with a leading rider who is brought down by a runner, or a runner dies or steps on a baby and kills it during an equally high-profile moment in the mountains. Then heads will roll. But it will be too late then...

I guess Sanchez being injured and withdrawing from the race isn't high enough profile? It wasn't a runner, but a seated man who caused the crash. Nevertheless, a spectator caused Sanchez to crash.

 

[Pricey_sky]

The worst are the ones that run looking in the camera on the motorcycle, waving like imbeciles, instead of watching the riders.Why are they even there? Do they hike up a mountain in order to be on tv for two seconds?

Completely agree, They are idiots. You can just predict that one year we will have the GC riders coming up a climb and being taken out by some fool waving into the motorbike camera instead of watching where the riders are going!

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Anyone knows how didi is doing? I heard he had a brain surgery.

 

[JetSet]

The worst are the ones that run looking in the camera on the motorcycle, waving like imbeciles, instead of watching the riders.Why are they even there? Do they hike up a mountain in order to be on tv for two seconds?

They are what we call in The U.K "Attention seekers"


Pete

 

[thirteen]

Anyone knows how didi is doing? I heard he had a brain surgery.

from road.cc on 6 July:

The 60-year-old is missing this year due to having to undergo surgery recently to on a brain lesion, with surgeons having to remove blood clots, reports L’Equipe, but he is now happily out of danger and recuperating at home in Storkow near Berlin. Evidently, jumping up and down along roads the length and breadth of France isn’t part of his recovery programme, however.

from CN on 12 July:

“Tour Devil” Didi Senft confirmed that he will miss the Tour this year for the first time, but that things are finally looking up after his surgery last month.

i do miss him!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Danilo Wyss got hit a by a woman in the Tour of Pologne yesterday. Unfortunately it seems like that these types of incidences are are occurring more often.

 

[TourOfTexas]

On my tape of the '89 Tour, there's a great sequence featuring one of these "types" running uphill (chasing Delgado, if I remember right), and as the gradient takes its toll, his little legs just quit - causing him to do an absolutely beautiful header into the road - just before he goes out of the camera's view...Priceless!!

That fat mechanic in this year's TOC after giving his rider a push - I fell out of my chair laughing. His limbs were so strange to exertion it didn't look like they knew which way to go. It was the best part of the stage.

 

[BillytheKid]

Money needs to be spent on and informative television ad campaign. It's impact would be minimal. The naked guy running along side Gesink at Cali was the worst. A great dishorner to his effort there. The runners are all about themselves and nothing more.

 

[Magnus]

I guess Sanchez being injured and withdrawing from the race isn't high enough profile? It wasn't a runner, but a seated man who caused the crash. Nevertheless, a spectator caused Sanchez to crash.

How did the seated man who wasn't on the road cause a crash?

 

[Dewulf]

How did the seated man who wasn't on the road cause a crash?

his chair was basically flush with the road, meaning his legs and/or cane were actually intruding into the road. my post on the page before this has a little more detail and a link to a news page about it.

On a different note, the runners are basically attention seekers right? And they're trying to put themselves somewhere they shouldn't be yes? You know, hope this isn't hijacking the thread but I can't help thinking this is just like the behaviour of some of the more 'amateur' sprinters.

eg. Boeckmans pushes into Lotto's train....this is just trying too hard, causing danger and impacting results....and for what? the chance to get a placing behind Sagan?! He might block Greipel, but some other A-lister will get the win. Media-fever seems to have infected us humans on all levels, and the ridiculous number of crashes, especially leading into sprints, is one of the results.

 

[joe_papp]

In today's stage, when Vino and Albasini were off-the-front and the chase had split in the crosswinds, there was a moment seen from the overhead (helicopter) feed when a spectator on the left-hand side literally dove away from the road as the first chase passed by all scrunched-up and desperately trying to find shelter from the wind. I can't say I blame them...and at least they had the sense to get out of the way.

Cyclingnews finally reports Wiggo's being burned by RUNNERS carrying flares:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/team-sky-faces-fan-backlash

"They may have two places on the general classification podium seemingly wrapped up, but several riders for Team Sky have felt the wrath of 'fans' on the side of the road this Tour de France.

Maillot jaune Bradley Wiggins suffered minor burns to his arm when spectators running alongside the peloton with flares collided with him on the outskirts of Sarras, 25 kilometres from the close of Stage 12.

"I'm covered in all this yellow stuff," said Wiggins. When flares are lit, a residue forms as part of the smoke plume.

"I got hit in the arm with a flare, burnt my arm a bit but it's alright. It's pretty dangerous, and I'm sure them guys are nursing a few wounds tonight because there were quite a few bottles in their direction.""

spectators running alongside the peloton with flares - how fcked up is it that we're even reading about such insanity?!?

 

[oldcrank]

I think hundreds of real cycling fans that had to get
out of his way and missed a chance to cheer their
favourite rider after waiting for hours on the hillside
would have loved to sucker punch that idiot in the
American football helmet that used to always show
up. A well placed boot to his groin would have made
an instant cult hero of whoever delivered it successfully.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

The booing of "tassie tree hugging little muppet" (his words) porte was probably from Gallic_Ho

 

[RedheadDane]

I'm totally speechless about the tacking! It's just... ****ing insane!

 

[Warhawk]

I'm totally speechless about the tacking! It's just... ****ing insane!

Yeah, the runners are downright models of good fan behavior by comparison.

 

[zigzag wanderer]

Tweet from Greg Henderson today:

Best part of my day was seeing the clown that was yapping at @MarkCavendish up final climb get spear tackled by the crowd. Superb.

Anyone know any more about what happened?

 

[Racelap]

Yobs with flares, tacks in the road... It's starting to sound like the peloton needs a full time escort at the head, middle, and rear.

 

[Magnus]

I'm totally speechless about the tacking! It's just... ****ing insane!

At least nobody has been shooting at the peloton unlike the 2009 TdF.

 

[joe_papp]

VeloNews finally states the obvious

Getting some more coverage, the problem of "roadside antics:"

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012...adside-antics-at-the-cirque-du-so-lame_229969

"The Tour de France is more than a sporting event: It’s a three-ring circus at which the race must often compete for attention with the clowns and freaks on its midway.

Yes, July is a time for colorful characters, big egos, and big stories — with some stemming from the Tour’s own dramas (both on and off the road) and others carefully timed to coincide with its spotlight.

So gather around, circus fans, it’s time for today’s updates from Under the Big Top. …"