To the Organizers of the Tour de France: Do Something! Aux Organisateurs du Tour de France: Faites quelque-chose!

By Tom Kando

On July 2, I began to watch my favorite sports event: The fabulous Tour de France, the greatest bicycle race in the world.

On the very first day, there were spectator-caused crashes, one of which caused around 100 racers to fall or collide. I have been wondering for years about the insane behavior of Tour de France road-side spectators. As the racers bike up to the dizzying heights of the Tourmalet or the Alpe D’Huez summits, or as they sprint by on picturesque French country roads, the spectators invariably move closer and closer to the middle of the road, crowding out the athletes, leaving hardly any space for them to bike through, touching them, grabbing them, running after them, sticking flags and other objects in their faces!


And of course, this often results in accidents, grave injuries to the athletes, sometimes costing them the victory and even their career. Absolute insanity.

Years ago, the legendary Eddy Merckx would have won an unprecedented sixth Tour de France, had it not been for a vicious and criminal attack by a spectator who assaulted him as he was riding by. A few years ago, an idiot spectator got his belt tangled up with Lance Armstrong’s handlebar, causing the champion to fall.

And now, at the end of the first stage of the 2011 Tour, a moronic spectator stood too far out into the road. As the high-speed peloton came by, a biker collided with the spectator, and hundred bikers fell, like dominoes. This included the number one contender, Alberto Contador, who lost a minute and a half as a result, which might cost him the ultimate victory.

A few minutes later, at the finishing stretch, while the thousands of spectators were finally fenced in, they still managed to stick out flags and batons towards the racers, endangering them as they whizzed by.

I am flabbergasted by everyone’s equanimity about this. No outrage among the TV commentators, or among the athletes themselves, nothing said about a need for some measures. Everyone seems to feel that this is part of business.

I am an avid road biker myself. Five months ago, I was hit by a car while biking in California’s Gold Country. Broke my arm, changed my life, needed surgery. I haven’t been able to bike since then. Doesn’t anyone care about the safety of bicyclists?

Alors ecoutez, les Francais: In my view, the Tour de France is the greatest sports event in the world, across the most beautiful country in the world. I grew up in France, and I love no country more.

You are crazy for putting up with such spectator behavior. Fine these people! I know, you can’t fence in 3,000 kilometers of road, but surely you can prosecute these life-threatening idiots who each year cause dozens of athletes to fall, to be maimed and to have to abandon their quest for victory, no?

I know of no other sport event where the spectators play a major role in determining the outcome.

Vous etes fous, de permettre ca! Faites quelque-chose, sinon, ces cretins vont gacher le plus bel evenement sportif du monde! leave comment here