Tour de France: Fanhooliganism ensures outraged reactions!
Tour de France: Fanhooliganism ensures outraged reactions!
Grand Colombier, Frankreich - During the Tour de France there was a shocking incident in the second stage when some spectators were on tombstones to catch a better look at the race. This disrespectful act was immediately referred to as the "sad low point" of the event. The situation escalated particularly when the competition between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard became more intensive, which raised additional concern about the safety of cyclists. According to Krone it is not the first time that fans at the Tour de France are unreasonable - there have been incidents in the past where chaots drivers ignited or smoke bombs.
The safety of the cycling professionals is increasingly in focus. Georg Zimmermann expressed concerns during the departure from the Grand Colombier, which he thought was extremely dangerous. He reported that drivers have to maneuver through drunk fans, which can be compared to a soccer team that runs through the stands after a game. Zimmermann reached 13th place on the 13th stage and described the situation as uncomfortable. In another incident, Sprinter Jordi Meeus was almost involved in a fall when a fan held his arm over the barrier grille. The time also reports on other incidents in which cyclists were endangered by fans, including a severe fall of Tony Martin in 2021.
safety concerns in cycling
Jonas Vingegaard, the two-time Tour-de-France champion, also has concerns about security in cycling. He refuses that his children take part in the bike races and describes the sport as too risky, which is underpinned by his own experiences with severe falls. During the Basque Country Tour in 2024, he suffered several broken bones and a pneumothorax. Vingegaard not only criticizes risky driving maneuvers, but also blames the organizers and the World Association UCI for many falls. According to Tour-Magazin, 497 incidents were registered last season.
In response to the increasing security concerns, the UCI has introduced new measures. In the case of two warnings in a race, a seven-day lock takes place, while three yellow cards lead to a 14-day lock within 30 days. In addition, the three-kilometer rule was extended to up to five kilometers to make the goal less hectic. In order to further improve security, the introduction of airbags is discussed in cycling, although practical solutions in professional sports are still missing. Team boss Ralph Denk is in favor of portable security solutions, while at Tour de Suisse, additional security measures such as a mobile security center and GPS tracker were implemented for drivers.
In view of the recent tragic incidents, including the fatal accident of Gino Mäder, the topic of security in cycling has gained importance. The UCI even considers limiting the translation of racing bikes to reduce the top speed of the drivers.| Details | |
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| Ort | Grand Colombier, Frankreich |
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