Fan behavior at the Tour de France continues to be a point of contention among the cycling community. A large element of the excitement is created by the spectator atmosphere but it often gets out of hand.
As with anything, that is where the issues lie and safety becomes a concern.
Spectators at the Tour de France are allowed unprecedented access to the event, outside of some barriers at the start and finish of most stages. There isn’t any room to put up additional safety precautions on the tight streets of small towns throughout a country that was founded in 843 AD. Thousands of people line the roads with flags, flares and fanfare. It makes for incredible scenes.
As cool as it is, the confined quarters can cause serious issues for the riders. Spectators don’t get out of their way or act a fool.
This year’s Tour began on a sour note when a cyclist shattered his teeth before the first stage when a fan knocked him off of his bike with a bag. Saturday’s Stage 14 was perhaps the worst incident of spectator behavior in the last decade, if not of all-time.
A man threw potato chips directly into the face of the top two riders on the tail end of an extremely difficult climb. The incident was so ugly that the Cyclistes Professionel Associes is taking legal action.
Sunday was not nearly as bad. However, it almost ended so much worse.
A shirtless man in a straw hat was running in the middle of the street during Stage 15. While that is not uncommon, he was too far into the road— to the point that he was right in line with the team car and motorcyclists. It was disruptive.
Fortunately, a vigilante was there to kick him out of the way.
Patadon histórico, ídolo #TdF2024 pic.twitter.com/dZ85Rkm8Eo
— Las Gafas de Soldador (@lasgafasdesolda) July 14, 2024
The shirtless man was very lucky that he didn’t get run over by the car behind him. It was close!