What's up with these crazy spectators?

They have been camping on the mountain for at least one overnight. Drinking
whatever juice is available. Just like Spring Break.

"Kent Hosterman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

"Kent Hosterman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

What do you expect the race organizers to do? These are public roads, mostly
in non-incorporated areas, and there's no contract between the TDF and the
spectators (as there would be with tickets). From a legal standpoint, I bet
the riders are just people on bikes going past a lot of pedestrians who have
every right to be there. If someone assaults a rider, that's different, but
even casual, non-aggressive contact is hardly a crime.

Sure, it sucks and it's scary, I agree... but blaming the race organizers is
probably not useful.

RichC

"Rich Clark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Kent Hosterman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

What do you expect the race organizers to do? These are public roads,

mostly

Quoted message said:

in non-incorporated areas, and there's no contract between the TDF and the
spectators (as there would be with tickets). From a legal standpoint, I

bet

Quoted message said:

the riders are just people on bikes going past a lot of pedestrians who

have

Quoted message said:

every right to be there. If someone assaults a rider, that's different,

but

Quoted message said:

even casual, non-aggressive contact is hardly a crime.

Sure, it sucks and it's scary, I agree... but blaming the race organizers

is

Quoted message said:

probably not useful.

RichC

And further, it's not like this is the first year there have been crazy
spectators. Did you note how smoothly and calmly Lance and all the other
riders just blazed on through the throngs. They've been there and done that
time and time again. Shoot, Lance derives much of his motivation from drunk
Frenchies who stand on the roadside yelling that he's a doper. Of course,
based on what I saw today, it's the drunk Americans who seemed to be
creating the most danger. When OLN fired those cutters, I wish they'd sent
them packing, too.

Bob C.

"Kent Hosterman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

How do you control a million fans who are drunk, on drugs and eating hot
dogs? Well almost, many of them are just high on the moment. TDF is a
natural drug.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Rich Clark said:

"Kent Hosterman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

What do you expect the race organizers to do? These are public roads, mostly
in non-incorporated areas, and there's no contract between the TDF and the
spectators (as there would be with tickets). From a legal standpoint, I bet
the riders are just people on bikes going past a lot of pedestrians who have
every right to be there. If someone assaults a rider, that's different, but
even casual, non-aggressive contact is hardly a crime.

What I find absolutely amazing is that so far, none of the idiots who
run alongside the riders, waiving flags, panting as they drag their beer
belly up the slopes, has managed to make one of the riders fall. At
least, I can't remember that ever happening in 30+ years of watching the
Tour on TV ("Eric the moron" on Alpe d'Huez a few years back, or that
cop/gendarme/CRS even earlier, is a different thing, I only talk of the
runners here).

jyh.

--
=====================================================================
jean-yves herve' /\
Department of Computer Science \/ e-mail --> [email hidden]
and Statistics /\
University of Rhode Island \/ Tel. --> (401) 874-4400
Kingston, RI 02881-0816 /\ Fax. --> (401) 874-4617
USA \/
=====================================================================

"Sierraman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Kent Hosterman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are

absolutely

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it

Armstrong

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

How do you control a million fans who are drunk, on drugs and eating

hot

Quoted message said:

dogs? Well almost, many of them are just high on the moment. TDF is a
natural drug.

Barriers. Metal ones. With spikes on top of them. preferably electric
barriers.

"Jiyang Chen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Sierraman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Kent Hosterman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are

absolutely

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it

Armstrong

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

How do you control a million fans who are drunk, on drugs and eating

hot

Quoted message said:

dogs? Well almost, many of them are just high on the moment. TDF is a
natural drug.

Barriers. Metal ones. With spikes on top of them. preferably electric
barriers.

Your going to put barriers for 100 miles down a road that is sometimes so
narrow that there is just enough room for one car to travel?

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

americans... always wanting to ruin a good thing.

thanks,
jason

ps: those rabid idiotic fans are what makes cycling one of the greatest sports
on the planet. Sitting in bleachers watching a sporting event is for fat
americans...

"Jason Waddell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

americans... always wanting to ruin a good thing.

thanks,
jason

ps: those rabid idiotic fans are what makes cycling one of the greatest

sports

Quoted message said:

on the planet. Sitting in bleachers watching a sporting event is for fat
americans...

As long as they don't get violent like soccer fans! Can you imagine huge
fights breaking out so the riders couldn't get through on the course or even
a few riders getting into it with fans?

Jason Waddell said:

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

americans... always wanting to ruin a good thing.

thanks,
jason

ps: those rabid idiotic fans are what makes cycling one of the greatest sports
on the planet. Sitting in bleachers watching a sporting event is for fat
americans...

Admit it, you want your own groupies.

History says there was an incident where one cyclist was stabbed by a
spectator on a climb. I forgot who or when.

Ken

"jean-yves hervé" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Rich Clark said:

"Kent Hosterman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

What do you expect the race organizers to do? These are public roads,

mostly

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in non-incorporated areas, and there's no contract between the TDF and

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

spectators (as there would be with tickets). From a legal standpoint, I

bet

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the riders are just people on bikes going past a lot of pedestrians who

have

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

every right to be there. If someone assaults a rider, that's different,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

even casual, non-aggressive contact is hardly a crime.

What I find absolutely amazing is that so far, none of the idiots who
run alongside the riders, waiving flags, panting as they drag their beer
belly up the slopes, has managed to make one of the riders fall. At
least, I can't remember that ever happening in 30+ years of watching the
Tour on TV ("Eric the moron" on Alpe d'Huez a few years back, or that
cop/gendarme/CRS even earlier, is a different thing, I only talk of the
runners here).

jyh.

--
=====================================================================
jean-yves herve' /\
Department of Computer Science \/ e-mail --> [email hidden]
and Statistics /\
University of Rhode Island \/ Tel. --> (401) 874-4400
Kingston, RI 02881-0816 /\ Fax. --> (401) 874-4617
USA \/
=====================================================================

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

History says there was an incident where one cyclist was stabbed by a

spectator on a climb. I forgot who or when.

Quoted message said:

Ken

Wasn't that a tennis player on a court?

In article <[email hidden]>,

Frank said:

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

History says there was an incident where one cyclist was stabbed by a

spectator on a climb. I forgot who or when.

Quoted message said:

Ken

Wasn't that a tennis player on a court?

Monica Seles, April 30, 1993, in Hamburg, Germany.

--
tanx,
Howard

So far, so good, so what?

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Kent Hosterman said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

Typical ignorant American response. Plese take some time and learn
something about the sport before you open your mouth next time.

Idiot.

Regards to everyone else,
H.

On Sun, 18 Jul 2004 01:47:43 -0500, "Frank" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

History says there was an incident where one cyclist was stabbed by a

spectator on a climb. I forgot who or when.

Quoted message said:

Ken

Wasn't that a tennis player on a court?

It was some kid by the parent of another kid playing little league
baseball.

JT

Rich Clark said:

What do you expect the race organizers to do?

Considering that the tour is a French symbol, I'd expect French
authorities to take security far more seriously.

Can you imagine any event in the Olympics with this laid back approach
?

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

History says there was an incident where one cyclist was stabbed by a
spectator on a climb. I forgot who or when.

Not stabbed, but punched in the stomach. Belgium Eddy Merckx was going for
his 6th Tour win when an enraged French fan punched him in the kidney. He
managed to recovered enough to finish 2nd. This injury shorten his career.

drewdr said:

Rich Clark said:

What do you expect the race organizers to do?

Considering that the tour is a French symbol, I'd expect French
authorities to take security far more seriously.

Can you imagine any event in the Olympics with this laid back approach
?

No, but this is one reason the Tour is more interesting than the Olympics,
IMHO. What with the cows, the demonstrations, the wacky spectators, the
weather, trains crossing the route... It is more like the game of life,
where chance is allowed to play a role. Then there is the scenery... IMHO
this is a reflection of the European attitude toward sport, or at least
toward some sports. Baseball is so much more sterile (IMHO -- YMMV etc. --
not a troll!)

This is not to say that rider safety is a non-issue, and I also worry a
bit about the damage that could be done by some spectator with
particularly poor judgment (perhaps made worse by a few drinks). But as
Rich suggests, the logistical problems involved in improving security
could be formidable. It would seriously detract from the appeal of the
race, for example, if the whole route were lined with 10-ft high
bulletproof plexiglas panels... Any concrete suggestions for improving the
situation?

AMG

"Kent Hosterman" <[email hidden]> wrote com...

Quoted message said:

Jeez! I can not beleive the spectators! So many of them are absolutely
creating a hazard for the racers. Why don't the race organizers do
something to control these crowds. It would be a tragedy it Armstrong
lost his chance for a 6th win because of some jerk spectator.

I take it this is the first time you've ever watched pro cycling in Europe.