4 ms·

This has been more or less normalised in the Tour though. There are hundreds of similar episodes every year, which are just close calls. It's less common early

This has been more or less normalised in the Tour though. There are hundreds of similar episodes every year, which are just close calls. It's less common early in a stage when the peloton is so large, but hardly a rarity. Close proximity to "spirited" fans is a part of the culture of the race (and other European races). And it isn't really practical to turn 2000+ miles of public roads into a sports venue with barriers, security, etc on a rolling basis for a couple of days. While this person is to blame, it's a case of when, not if, future incidents occur with the current situation. For me some responsibility lies with the organisers.

CRConrad 5y ago
> This has been more or less normalised in the Tour though. So? Is that a good thing? Any attempt to un-normalise it is to be praised, not pooh-poohed.
- tweetle_beetle 5y ago
  Finding a single scapegoat for a single incident when estimated spectators numbers are 12-15 million per year and poor behaviour driven by television broadcasting has been going on for decades is just a distraction from the elephant in the room. The huge money making event cannot really be run safely.
  - CRConrad 5y ago
    It's a start. Far from your "scapegoat", this nincompoop with her sign was obviously culpable. Start punishing more idiots who do shit like that, and after a whle you'll have fewer idiots who do shit like that.
carapace 5y ago
You say "it isn't really practical to turn 2000+ miles of public roads into a sports venue with barriers, security, etc on a rolling basis for a couple of days." and "some responsibility lies with the organisers." which seems contradictory to me. What more should the organizers do?
- tweetle_beetle 5y ago
  That's my point - they're choosing to put on an even which can't really be run safely. So they should shoulder some of the responsibility.
  - carapace 5y ago
    > they should shoulder some of the responsibility. How? What does that mean? The riders sue the organizers?

CRConrad 5y ago

> This has been more or less normalised in the Tour though. So? Is that a good thing? Any attempt to un-normalise it is to be praised, not pooh-poohed.

tweetle_beetle 5y ago
Finding a single scapegoat for a single incident when estimated spectators numbers are 12-15 million per year and poor behaviour driven by television broadcasting has been going on for decades is just a distraction from the elephant in the room. The huge money making event cannot really be run safely.
- CRConrad 5y ago
  It's a start. Far from your "scapegoat", this nincompoop with her sign was obviously culpable. Start punishing more idiots who do shit like that, and after a whle you'll have fewer idiots who do shit like that.

carapace 5y ago

You say "it isn't really practical to turn 2000+ miles of public roads into a sports venue with barriers, security, etc on a rolling basis for a couple of days." and "some responsibility lies with the organisers." which seems contradictory to me. What more should the organizers do?

tweetle_beetle 5y ago
That's my point - they're choosing to put on an even which can't really be run safely. So they should shoulder some of the responsibility.
- carapace 5y ago
  > they should shoulder some of the responsibility. How? What does that mean? The riders sue the organizers?