“It’s already a problem”
Fan chaos poses a serious dilemma for the tour
07/17/2023, 8:11 p.m
Like no other major event, the Tour de France thrives on the closeness between drivers and fans. These days, the dangerous downsides of it are becoming particularly clear. But what can be done about it?
When the fan chaos at the Tour de France reached its lowest point, the man in the yellow jersey also spoke up: “It’s a problem,” said defending champion Jonas Vingegaard in the picturesque Alpine town of Saint-Gervais in view of the falls and injuries: ” The spectators just have to be nice and not stand in the street and take pictures.”
What annoyed the Dane? A scene 128 kilometers from the finish of the 15th stage of the Tour on Sunday. A clueless fan had leaned across the track to take a selfie, but instead made for much uglier pictures. Vingegaard’s noble helper Sepp Kuss touched the arm of the spectator, fell, cleared his teammate Nathan van Hooydonck and triggered a powerful mass fall.
“I just hope that everyone stays safe because that can be a disaster on descents,” warned Vingegaard’s great rival Tadej Pogacar afterwards. “We love the fans, it’s unbelievable how many are here. But they really have to be careful,” said the Slovenian, summing up the dilemma.
Several problematic events
Because – the pros know that too – the fascination of the Tour de France lives to a large extent from the unusual closeness between drivers and fans. A unique atmosphere on the climbs and breathtaking TV pictures are the positive product of this proximity. Towards the end of the second week of the tour, however, the downsides became particularly clear.
Sunday’s mass crash was just the nadir in a series of problematic events. On Friday, after the hilltop finish at the Col du Grand Colombier, the riders had to roll down the same path to get to their team buses. In the general chaos between trailers and cars, some of which were heavily intoxicated, this was, as Belgian top driver Wout van Aert said, “actually life-threatening”.
On Saturday, the cycling enthusiasts then had an influence on the sporting events: when Pogacar wanted to attack Vingegaard in a thrilling second, he was rudely slowed down by an accompanying motorcycle. In the dense trellis of fans on the narrow road of the Col de la Joux Plane, the pilot could not make room quickly enough – Pogacar had to stop his start to avoid a collision.
“Of course it’s dangerous”
Rolf Aldag sees a need for action by the organizer, especially after the heavy mass fall on Sunday. “Of course that’s extremely dangerous. Many are not aware of the speed,” said the sports director of the German racing team Bora-hansgrohe on the rest day of the tour.
A possible solution according to Aldag: TV spots. “There were already these educational films from the ASO. I would assume that viewers along the route would also watch the Tour de France on television the day before,” said the ex-professional. It is important to show “what can happen and what responsibility you have as a spectator.”
However, in the future, dangerous situations that sometimes cover more than 200 kilometers a day will probably not be completely prevented. Fall victim Kuss summed it up aptly on Sunday: “It’s the biggest bike race in the world and many spectators just don’t know exactly what’s going on”. It is therefore unfortunately “part of the tour”.