Against my will I’ve got hooked on the Tour de France. The TV cover is truly sensational, as many of you will have seen, and the participants display amazing strength.
My question? Are the numerous spectators on those narrow mountain roads as irritating and dangerous as they seem?
On TV it appears that they’re crowding into the riders’ space, taking photos in the middle of the road and jumping back only at the last moment, taking up room on the inside of curves, whipping national flags in the riders’ faces, jumping and running alongside the riders, and generally getting in the way?
Is it an illusion caused by the cameras? Are the racers cheered up and supported by the merriment? Or are these hardworking riders really cheesed off because uncontrolled looneys are getting in the way?
Is it helping or hindering?
Any cyclists can answer me? Or US postal service employees?
I’ve never actually been there for the TdF but I’ve been in Europe for other cycling events. The answer is that, yes, they really do spill out into the path of riders. The thing is though, Europe is where it’s at if you are to be a big time cyclist and th is is what the Europeans do ie. indulge in near and apparent chaos. Not meaning to pander to stereotypes, but the Spanish and Italian fans are especially… affectionate? Of course, this is one of the attributes that makes that area an extremely difficult place to want to leave. You just deal with it and learn to take it in your stride when you get over there.
It’s kind of like when we tell foreigners about the distances we sometimes drive between cities. I’ve never really thought it was such a big deal to drive up to Sydney from Melbourne for a long weekend but I have relatives in Ireland who’d ckoke at the idea of a 800km road trip. In ONE DAY!!
As is so often the case, it’s all a matter of perspective.tn
I recall something I saw on the telly a couple of years ago. I don’t remember what race it was but this is what happened: A rider was working his way up a steep hillside with a spectator running alongside, shouting in his ear. After a while the rider had enough and very firmly planted an elbow in the face of the shouter.
I have to agree the coverage has been fantastic, can’t ask for better scenery or competition. It seems this is the way over in Europe. If you have access to Speedvision watch some of the World Rally Championship coverage. Spectators lining the narrow roads as the cars whip by them at speeds that are unreal for dirt roads. If the car gets stuck or goes off the road the spectators are willing to get in the thick of things and push it back on course. Safety fences ? We don’t need no stinking fences.
I remeber going to some Group B rally events when I was stationed in Europe and being amazed at how close to the action everyone was. I will always remember one group of (obviously) drunken young German men one the outside of a very muddy corner who took great delight in being completely splattered with mud as each car came around. They were almost as much fun to watch as the contestants.
Sewalk, I know exaclty what you are talking about. I have been to a few Rally events and some of the spectators are mad. I mean, I want to get close to the action too, but they just go over the top. I’ve marshalled before too and it is a pain in the butt.
It seeems to be worse on some of the European rounds of the World Rally Championship. These guys are bombing along at 80-90mph and people are standing in the road on blind corners to see the cars better. And (slight rant ahead) it pisses me off when you see them put stuff in the road. Usually to the detriment of everyone but the local driver. </rant>
Erm, sorry for the hijack too <g> I do agree with the OP about cycling events too.
There was a clip from last year’s Tour de France in which a spectator stepped out to get a picture just before the finish line and got creamed by the racer (who was in the lead, I believe). The cyclist spilled, of course, threw a nasty look and hopped back on. He half appeared to just plow into the guy–maybe he’d had a little too much?
Well my respect for the cyclists is only increased by what you all have to say.
The other night there was an amazing shot of (I think) Ullrich failing to take a corner, and plunging (still on his bike) off the road and down a bank into what looked like a creek. The camera looked back in time to catch him clambering up again, bike over his shoulder, ready to ride on some more.
Just so you know, that was a more or less controlled spill Ullrich took the other day. He said he went around the corner and knew he was going to bite it, so he laid the bike down in the grass to soften the fall. Armstrong and the others at the front slowed down to allow him to catch back up. Guess you can afford that when you’re 5 minutes ahead of your closest competition.
If it’s the one I am thinking of, that was actually a few years ago but gets repeated quite often. The guy with the camera was in fact a policeman who was supposed to be keeping the crowed behind the barrier!
By the way, what sort of coverage are you getting in the US? In the UK we used to get a really good half-hour summary each day which in recent years was used by ESPN. This year we have been denied this because Channel 4 (Bastards) want to show Cricket instead (yawn).
On reflection I think I was too hasty. I do seem to remember the incident you refer to now. It was in response to that that caused the TV company to show the policeman again.
Ticker, we’re getting live daily coverage on cable channel OLN (Outdoor Life Network) from 9:30-11:30 am EDT which is repeated in the afternoon. Then in the evening a highlight show (some extra technical stuff and individual interviews) from 9:00 to 11:00 pm EDT. I’m almost positive that OLN is getting their feed from French Television and then using their own commentators.
