Tour de France Tour de France 2023, stage 17: Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc - Courchevel, 165.7k

[RedheadDane]

Which is indeed my point.

But. They. Aren't!
As we saw during Covid. As we saw on Puy de Dôme. It's is indeed perfectly possible to have great racing without spectators.
They certainly aren't important enough that "Riders just have to accept that sometimes idiots will get in their way." should be the way to think.

 

[Netserk]

Which is indeed my point.

I think what the Vuelta does works, even if imperfectly. They still have spectators and a good atmosphere, so I don't think there's much of a trade-off where harsher measures against transgressions will negatively impact the great atmosphere the majority of spectators create.

I hate when on Alpe d'Huez the crowds make it impossible for riders to overtake and to attack, so instead they have to wait for a spot with more space.

 

[tobydawq]

But. They. Aren't!
As we saw during Covid. As we saw on Puy de Dôme. It's is indeed perfectly possible to have great racing without spectators.
They certainly aren't important enough that "Riders just have to accept that sometimes idiots will get in their way." should be the way to think.

That's your opinion. So many other people think something was missing at Puy de Dôme. And. In. The. Covid. Period.

 

[RedheadDane]

That's your opinion. So many other people think something was missing at Puy de Dôme. And. In. The. Covid. Period.

I just saw great racing.

 

[tobydawq]

I just saw great racing.

Great.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Puy de Dome was shite, and COVID was shite. I'll gladly trade a motorbike getting in the way at some point during the race in order for the race to have the nerve and excitement a crows brings!

 

[RedheadDane]

Puy de Dome was shite, and COVID was shite. I'll gladly trade a motorbike getting in the way at some point during the race in order for the race to have the nerve and excitement a crows brings!

By "excitement" do you actually mean "rage"?

 

[Ricco']

Nothing beats this. I'm very fond of this moment, after more than a year of corona, seeing the tiffosi line up Alpe Motta with Damiano en route to this stage victory and the final podium.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AWjp9UmiY0

 

[Valv.Piti]

By "excitement" do you actually mean "rage"?

No, of course not. But watching cycling without spectators is such a flat feeling for me. Like watching a football match on an empty stadium.