Walk Don’t Run
That any cyclist can enter the same arena with the same equipment as the professional helps to make cycling an awesome sport. True, the same thing could be said for golf or tennis but as a fan you can’t stand a meter away from any of those pros and scream encouragement. “Come on Tiger, RIP THAT FUCKER!” And if you attempt entry into Wimbledon wearing a super-fat inflatable sumo wrestler outfit, good luck to you.
Just because you can does not mean you should. Fan behavior has spun out of control on the Grand Tours. I breath a sigh of relief when the riders make it to the protection of the barriers toward the top of each mountain stage. I swear it started with Americans, as usual, during the Tour of California. People were dressing up and acting obnoxious, in hopes of getting on tv. Obviously this has been going on long before the Tour of California but before it seemed these were spectators who were there to watch bike racers go by yet felt compelled to dress up like giant…somethings. At TOC it was all about themselves.
Now that behavior has spread to Europe, perhaps it is Americans on vacation but we can’t afford to travel anymore so I’m afraid the cat is out of the bag. Literally, I saw a giant cat pawing the air at the Giro.
Obviously I don’t understand any of this and I sound like a crank. So be it. I love watching a bike race from the side of the road and I am usually silent, mouth agape when riders go by, holy shiet, they are fast, they are skinny. I approve of yelling and cowbells. I don’t know what compels people to run along side a rider and scream into his or her face. Why?
I have huge respect for professional cyclists, maybe more than they deserve. They are the current embodiment of all the pros that have gone before them. I can’t cheer Fiorenzo Magni going by, and I wouldn’t ever want to get so close as to disturb his line. I afford any current pro the same respect and fully endorse any racer who stiff arms some drunken fan who gets too close.
Here is my starter list for fans that need to be held in small tents with drunk Dutch when the riders pass by. Oh, these people have had their chances and they have abused them.
Cheap bastards who use the tv coverage for their cheap motor home ads
Religious nuts who flash biblical verse toward the tv moto
That guy with the antler helmet
The human sized bike bottle fool
The devil, that’s right, he has had his run
The inflatable sumo people
The four year olds running unleashed
I think we should not crush the ambitions of the Borat-in-mono-kini crew, I don’t know what drives them but somehow, for some unknowable reason, I like them.
Some argue professional cycling is just entertainment, adults riding bikes, but I know there are many cyclists out there who see it as more than just entertainment, it’s, in some way, a reflection of life, and it deserves a little respect.
Oh great, just as soon as I hit the “publish” button, I see this.
Gianni, spot on as usual. You for got one more for the list: any complete friggin moron who takes a dog to a bike race that’s not on a very, very short leash. You can’t blame the dog for getting a bit crazy what with all the noise and excitement, but you can blame the dumbass owner 100%.
By the way, I have a weird respect for the Dirk Hofmann Motorhomes guy. At least he stands at the side of the road and behaves with restraint. And the message is pretty clear and straightforward. The biblical verses perplex me as it assumes I know what somename-verse-whatever is referring to.
Bernard, Verse 5: “Blessed are the Soigneurs, for they shall calm tired and inflamed musclature”?
Eddy, Verse 525: And I shall smite all who challenge the actions of the Prophet”?
Jacques, Verse 69: And thou shalt not lie with the daughter of your wife even though there is no blood relation”?
Lance, Verse 7: And those who stray to the dark side will get their comeuppance and be banished to the land of Oprah, where women wail and scream for eternity”?
Oh yeah, Didi the Devil. Retire. Now. Please. You’re as original as a John 3:16 sign at a football game. Just part of the scenery.
@Gianni
I assumed you had seen that before, and was a reason behind the write-up!
I agree with you on the fucking idiots that are only out to get on TV (that damn devil included). I would, however, endorse getting close enough to Adam Hansen to give him a beer.
As much as I agree with you, part of me (the drunk knucklehead part) thinks that photo is hilarious, and what about the evil panda that chased Danny boy last year, I could watch that finish over and over again. Alas I know you right though and some of these assholes need taken down
I’ll give Hansen and the Dutch fans a pass here. One, it’s Alpe D’Huez. Two, he’s just riding to beat the time limit. Three, I expect several cups of beer were held out for him on the climb (and in particular, THAT corner), four, I doubt someone ran alongside him holding it out for him.
Dirk Hoffman Motorhomes is OK by me. It’s low key and is sort of an under the radar meme.
Fans going nuts like this are OK
The rest of these fuckers can fuck off. Didi in particular, he is a faded and unfortunate icon of the Lance era.
But Gianni, if you look at the Sumo on the left, it’s clear that Elvis is alive and running alongside bike races.
@wiscot verse 525 is genius.
@Gianni Don’t forget innocent dog loose from oblivious owner!
A-Merckx brother, you would think the pacing moto’s could push the crowds back. Maybe the race organizers should employ some of those Death Race 3000 jokers instead with the same sort of incentives as the movie.
I was at the Stage in 2007 when Casar crashed because of dog and went on to win the Stage. Epic for him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aBD1oLKpQ4
I think certain exemptions can be had for imaginative and original costumes. I really did appreciate the first guys wearing surgical scrubs. Was it with clenbutador?
and Gianni you forgot to ban mankinis. Or do you want to keep them?
And what about that clown who brought down Salvoldelli?
Let us not forget those with unleashed dogs.
@Marcus
Heheheeee. You funny boy. The Dutch clown who brought down Paulo, him most of all.
Gianni – good stuff. How about this for an authentic costume
@KW
I totally approve of this behavior, especially Adam taking it. Especially on the 2nd ascent of the day. It’s the mad runners, flag towing, wig wearing, drunken, race interfering with, dicks I have a problem with.
@wiscot
Wow, do you have those loaded and ready to go? Brilliant. Especially
Jacques, Verse 69: And thou shalt not lie with the daughter of your wife even though there is no blood relation”?
More of the same. Nice choice, Ted.
I don’t know. At my race tomorrow I’d kind of like someone running alongside me screaming something like. Hey you stupid, fat American mofo I’ve seen 90 year old women on beach cruisers climb better than you. Just saying what motivates me. ………
@Fausto Crapiz Thats just good old fashioned heckling except for the stupid part, thats a little mean. but if your friend is calling you a fat slow basterd I think thats fine as long as he doesn’t make you crash.
This should be done to all those who run:
@Nate
Lord I hope no one took anything from the dude with the muffin top. ‘Aint nothing good happening there.
@Fausto Crapiz
That’s what cyclocross season is for. Wait till autumn.
@ktula
Extra props to the tripper for executing the maneuver in such a casually deliberate manner.
@Nate He looks like Jensie (maybe his brother?)
@Fausto Crapiz
Just yell at yourself. “You’re pathetic monkey dick.!
Fausto — only joking.
@Ccos
It looks as if Muffin Top and Flag Suite are about to have a smackdown over who’s more outrageous. I think it’s a draw.
Not running, but still as if running…
@Nate
And he does that, even while multitasking. Note the tripper’s left hand. Well played.
This is now my favorite post and list of quote’s and photos I have seen on this site thank you everyone thank you.
@Nate
Yes! Exactly, thank you.
I know I should feel badly about this photo, but I don’t. That idiot deserved it.
Fan Gets Tripped chasing an US cyclist at Tour de…: http://youtu.be/bJm9sREf_kA
Well said, Gianni! But short of a cowcatcher on the lead moto I don’t see a return to restrained and elegant spectatorship any time soon.
@KW
Surely you would be getting close to Adam so that you could marvel at his hand made home produced special shoes? If you could ever find him going slow enough!
This was my favourite from last years TdF. Self regulation! That’s what we should be encouraging. Spectator on Spectator action is always the most entertaining…
Way back in 1910 everything was orderly. Single gear, unsealed roads, the fans gave room for Octave Lapize on the Col du Tourmalet.
Great call for respect and decency, Gianni. I fail to understand why people do this. I guess, mainly, the want to feel special for a few seconds. There was a funny recent New Yorker cartoon showing two people playing with their phones. One is saying to the other, “I want my 15 seconds of fame, then I want it to disappear.” I thought that was an amusing, but ultimately depressing, commentary on the lust for fame these days.
I went to the CX WC’s in Louisville and all I did was cheer like mad. I could never, ever imagine running or throwing or disturbing a PRO as they undertake their profession. How terrible.
wiscot – WOW! That is strong work! Really enjoyed those.
@sthilzy
I think you will find that as a frenchman Octave Lapize was probably benefitting from thefrench crowd giving him a little “help” rather in a similar fashion to the Tifosi. They are also blocking the road (although back then with far less riders and much more time gaps this may have had little effect).
However if I recall (A race for madmen is a great read) back in the day the french supporters used to tear the Belgians off their bikes, beat the crap out of them and then send them on their way. I am not so sure whether it was quite as glorious as you imagine back then, although the re-occurance of tacks in the road last year was a definite nod to the past.
The absolute worst is when they impact the outcome of a race or a stage. It’s one thing to make an ass of yourself on international tele but another to effect another man’s livelihood and the experience of fans worldwide just so you can prove what an ass you are.
@Deakus
Yes, probably not add glorious, but at least the pictures look classier.
@therealpeel
That photo is fine. People are crowding the rider and running along next to him. At least no one is is wearing a multi-colored wig or wearing a chicken outfit. But I bet someone is a little drunk in that photo too. It’s good to be reminded how far back this whole thing goes.
@sthilzy
They gave him room and, I think respect. The biggest difference is that the spectators in the Lapize pic are dressed normally. They’re not wearing some stupid costume seeking a few seconds of fame on TV. The latter seems to be indicative of Andy Warhol’s “15 minutes of fame” comment, except in this case the 15 minutes are achieved through the possibility of watching a few seconds of highlight film hundreds and hundreds of times.
Has anyone else seen the “Respect” videos put out by ASO featuring top Pros? Seems like ASO are very worried that things are getting out of hand and don’t want their race negatively affected by some douche interfering with the riders. If you don’t respect the riders, at least respect yourself and stay home in your stupid costume.
@Nate
Interesting picture here. As far as I know, I’ve never seen fans chasing a rider up one of the Murs in Flanders. Admittedly, there’s not much room to do so, but something tells me the hard core Belgie boys would take swift action on your costumed ass.
@Deakus
Pretty dangerous as the spectator fuck almost goes into the front wheel.
Idiots with national flags! Japan almost took out Porte.
Hahaha, it’s all the Americans fault! Hahahaha!
Don’t know about you. … but I liked the 2nd to last stage on the 2013 TDF when Froome punched that spectator in the face. The part that made it was the commentator s yelling, HE JUST HIT THAT GUY IN THE STOMACH!!
@Ccos
That dude weirded me out; he’s got the guns in pretty shape, but Lord help whoever has to wake up to the rest of that package every morning. Hard to reconcile.
Is it a Grand Tour or stage race thing maybe? This year the Giro seemed to have more idiots than normal, the Tour is very stressful to watch on TV as you are waiting for some tool to do something stupid.
This year we were at Amstel Gold, Fleche and LBL races (and rode the sportives the day prior to each) and we saw few, if any idiots. Even on La Redoute at the Phil Gilbert fan club AKA massive beer ten,t the fans were very pissed but well behaved.
@unversio
……and Froome still looking at stem while all this shenanigans is going on!
@sthilzy Ah, but Froome isn’t human. He uses his Batfink like senses to see his way through the crowds. Plus Porte as his whipping boy….