Cycling Fans Urged to Behave Better at Tour de France
Tour de France overall leader Jonas Vingegaard is calling on fans to improve their conduct at cycling’s premier event after another mass crash disrupted the 15th stage on Sunday.
“I’d like to tell the spectators to enjoy the race and be there to cheer for us without standing on the road or pouring beers on us,” said the Danish rider, who leads Slovenian Tadej Pogacar by just 10 seconds with the race nearing its conclusion. “Please, just enjoy the race.”
The latest incident, involving around two dozen riders, prompted appeals from several teams for fans to exercise more caution.
“Please be careful. So that the party remains a party for the riders, but also for you. You don’t need a cell phone to create mind-blowing memories,” said the Cofidis team, amid unverified reports that the spectator who caused the crash was taking a selfie.
The Ineos Grenadiers team echoed the sentiment, urging fans to “please give the riders room to race.” A day after a significant pileup forced several riders to withdraw, the latest accident occurred when a spectator on the roadside inadvertently touched American rider Sepp Kuss, a key teammate of Vingegaard, causing him to crash.
Fans gathering along the roadsides and in villages as the riders pass by is part of the Tour’s tradition and charm, but many spectators can take unnecessary risks, including running alongside the riders during mountain ascents.
“The team felt pretty good today, although we of course had this crash that affected some of my teammates,” Vingegaard said. Organizers also urged fans to “pay attention to the riders” after the incident, which did not result in any withdrawals.
Two years ago, a spectator holding a large cardboard sign and leaning into the path of oncoming riders led to a massive pileup during the opening stage.
Dutch veteran Wout Poels soloed to victory on Sunday after the grueling Alpine trek.
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