Is The Tour de France Now Considered A Contact Sport?
By betlynfrnds
@betlynfrnds (4060)
United States
June 26, 2021 5:15pm CST
I just saw a news clip of a fan at the Tour de France. He/she had a cardboard sign and was eager to be seen on tv.
The sign interfered with a cyclist; the rider hit the sign, crashed and started a chain reaction.
What a mess! Not to mention disrespectful. I just hope that no one was seriously hurt.
23 people like this
23 responses
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
26 Jun 21
I don't know if it's done intentionally or by accident.
6 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
26 Jun 21
Sometimes you wonder. It was hard to tell in this case. If if was intentional, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. 
6 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
30 Jun 21
@Nakitakona How true. I looked at another photo of the pile up after the wreck. The chain reaction was a total disaster.
4 people like this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
28 Jun 21
@betlynfrnds accident is unavoidable.
accident is unavoidable.4 people like this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
27 Jun 21
Saw a video of this one. Just awful. That sign caused a crash.
3 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
It was terrible. The cyclist really didn't have anywhere to go but into the sign.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
30 Jun 21
@allen0187 She really should face charges. Hopefully she and any others who may be thinking of doing something similar will think twice before doing anything so dumb.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
28 Jun 21
@betlynfrnds true.
The woman will face criminal charges. Not surprising that she left the scene immediately after the crash.
2 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
Hopefully she will have some type of punishment.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
@rebelann Yes, I agree. Something really should be done.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
1 Jul 21
It hurts just to look at it. 
I feel so bad for those cyclists.
I feel so bad for those cyclists.1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
2 Jul 21
@DianneN At least her escape was only temporary. She has been caught and charged.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
1 Jul 21
@betlynfrnds They know who held the sign and are looking for her. Darn escape artist!
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (94514)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
26 Jun 21
What some people will do to have their fifteen minutes of fame these days.
3 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
26 Jun 21
Oh I know, it's just so crazy anymore.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (94514)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
27 Jun 21
@betlynfrnds I thought that professional wrestling fans are crazy by trying to be part of the show but not it seems that cycling is getting its share of loony characters.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
@Deepizzaguy Not too long ago there were certain sports, including The Tour de France where most every spectator was respectful and did not interfere with the activity.
We're seeing some of these 'loonies' in different sports venues.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
3 Jul 21
I saw this too. He seemed to care more for himself the the actual sport and the participants.
2 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
6 Jul 21
@misunderstood_zombie Isn't that the truth? A real fan of the Tour would be paying attention to the participants and what was going on in the race.
The only thing this individual showed was selfishness.
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
My husband and I ride bikes for recreation. We use mountain bikes, not the fast racing bikes you see on the Tour.
I cringe at the thought of falling. Yes, it could certainly be hazardous.
Yes, it could certainly be hazardous.1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
Yes, and this is just one example of how athletes have had to deal with fans doing crazy things.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86757)
• United States
27 Jun 21
That person should be criminally charged for what he did.
2 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
I agree with you. I don't remember seeing anything so foolish at the Tour.
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
30 Jun 21
Yes it certainly was. Actually it was a woman. 
At first I thought it was a man. They did catch her and she's being charged.
At first I thought it was a man. They did catch her and she's being charged.2 people like this
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
2 Jul 21
Anybody will do anything for their '15 minutes of fame'---disgusting!!
2 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
2 Jul 21
I absolutely agree. And it continues to get worse with these 'copy cat' people, wouldn't you agree?
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
1 Jul 21
True. I don't know what it's going to take for any kind of control to occur. One commentator said that if this kind of thing continues, someone is going to die. I believe it. Those riders are going fast. They're trained to keep control but it only takes one foolish act to cause a very major problem.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33351)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
26 Jun 21
I've just heard about that in the news. One person dropped out, others were injured in the spill. That spectator should've known better with his sign and raised it high. He should be kicked out for it, just for his five minutes of fame.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
@KristenH I will try to keep up with this saga as it all unfolds. I'm sure it will be interesting to learn what does ( or does not ) happen. 
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
I agree. That's a shame about the injuries. These riders spend months and months training for this event. To have their opportunity of winning or at least finishing the race wiped out like that is horrible.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33351)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
27 Jun 21
@betlynfrnds Agreed. I've heard they're looking for her since she left the scene of the crime after the aftermath happened. I hope they take it to court for assault and battery or some other reason for her to say hi to her grandparents. She should've known better.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
27 Jun 21
I watched a video of it.
It looked accidental but the fan was way too close to the riders.
2 people like this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
27 Jun 21
Yes, she was much too close. I wonder what, if anything, will be done about it moving forward.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
7 Jul 21
French authorities are hunting for the woman who fled the country after that accident. They want to sue her for damages caused to riders and their bikes.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
7 Jul 21
That is very fitting. The last I heard, they didn't want to press any charges. They, I believe, referring to the riders.
She really should be held accountable for the damages and injuries.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
7 Jul 21
@DaddyEvil Yes, this is good to hear. Too many times, people do very dumb things and don't get the punishment they deserve.
Very hopefully the French police don't stop until she is caught and properly charged.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
7 Jul 21
@betlynfrnds The riders may not but that won't matter to the French police. They can still press charges so her fate is taken as a lesson to others who may try to get their face or message across like that.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
25 Aug 22
I don't recall anything a while ago but I do believe that something else happened in the most recent race a couple of months ago.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
10 Aug 21
I absolutely agree with you Judy. One of the best parts about the Olympics this year is that there were no spectators to ruin the games.
Fans have certainly been messing things up on the sports scene especially of late.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
10 Aug 21
Yes. The fans have been much too close to this race for a very long time. If adjustments are made in the future regarding spectators, it's a shame that it took an accident to make the change.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
1 Sep 21
It was bad. I've never seen anything like it before. Though there were injuries, I don't really know how serious they were.
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
14 Aug 22
I appreciate your honesty. It's always best to be sure of a matter before agreeing or disagreeing. 
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
14 Aug 22
@betlynfrnds That is why I am always honest.
1 person likes this
