Terrorism in Cycling

[Sunblock]

What are the worst things spectators (outsiders basically) have done to cyclists in a race?  I've heard that spitting is common on the Alps - something that must be an incredibly tough experience if you're so worn out, and moving through a tunnel of screaming people, and you're desperately hanging on on endless, excruciating climbs.

 

I know there have been plenty of unintentional mishaps, drunk cyclists being basically trampled by the leading mottorbike, Gianni Bugno fell once and pushed his bike as a spectator, missing his nose by a whisker.

 

Does anyone know about people intentionally throwing glass in the road, or thorns or nails to take riders out in big races.  And if so, what was done about it?  Because I'm not sure what can be done. (Witrot, don't yawn)

[Buff]

A policeman once stepped in front of Abdujappirhof (spell it like you say it ) in an effort to slow him down in a sprint... there was a very loud bang, lots of blood and skin lost.... it was a very bad idea

[Sunblock]

I remember that one.  Think the cop was a lot worse off.

[Psycho]

TDF Team TT, dink dit was met ONCE een jaar, toe het die spectators HayBales oor die pad gepak, en hulle moes stop.....

[Craven]

Recently did a Tour in Italy which included a TTT. The last three teams had fun riding over the thumb tacks that suddenly found their way onto the road.. I think someone dislikes the 'Finauto' team.

 

[Mudsimus]

As psycho nie my fkn fotos email nie, gaan ek sy tubby vol gate steek..

[Canaris]

 

Just for you, and this does not construe that I am doing your research for a future article, or that I endorse any of your opinions in any of the above mentioned articles, or that I give you permission to use any of my work in any form, edited or unedited ext ext to include all terms of a legal disclaimer.

 

Eddy Merckx was punched in the back.  (Effectively ending his career)

THere are many instances of the cheating alluded to by you in the TdF.  Read the history.

 

The single most controversial act every year is the route for the Giro dItalia, where the organisers  try and kill the climbers.  (though some one day classics also share such reputations)

 

David Millar has been known to refuse to race when conditions are too dangerous.  One race e climbed off the bike in protest over the conditions.  I think two of his team mates were hit by support cars.

 

Cyclists have also been known to hit each other in the sprints and even threaten each other in the peleton.  The most famous in recent years is the LA, simoenie (sic) incident in the TdF

 

 

KonaFan2007-05-29 04:27:24

[linnega]

There has been plenty done in the past.  There were all sorts of misdemeanours before TV watched every moment of the Grand Tours.  Nails and glass on the road was common - even leading to disqualification of the TDF winner one year.  More recently, Eddy Merckx was punched in the stomach by a spectator.  An Ullrich fan pulled Mayo and Armstrong down in 2003 on Luz Ardiden (okay maybe that wasn't intentional).  Every couple of years there used to be a Basque demonstration that brought the early part of a stage of the Tour or Vuelta to a standstill.  Of course, there was the Alpe d'Huez incident where Guerrini was attacked by a gendarme with a camera.

[Delgado]

Some guy punched Merckx in the ribs during a Tour....not sure which one though (tour not rib!)

[linnega]

The David Millar incident was a Vuelta stage where Millar protested the conditions of the race by climbing off his bike a metre before the finish line and never crossing it.  He was disqualified and ejected from the race.

 

Francesco Casagrande punched someone in the 1999 Giro to cap the ejection of Pantani (unfit to race) and Simoni (cocaine). Or maybe it was 2002, and Garzelli and Simoni got ejected? Anyway one time Casagrande puched a fellow cyclist and was ejected.

linnega2007-05-29 04:42:29

[Sunblock]

what's to prevent a guy going for a stage win from arranging someone to throw glass (via spectator) on an open stretch of road?  if they're willing to dope, wouldn't they stop at nothing?

[Canaris]

Sunblock, please remember that cycling in Europe is a "BETTING" sport and the cyclist may not even be involved in such "fixing", but rather a bookie who wants or needs a certain outcome.  They have done it in Italian soccer, pakistani cricket and even in local tiddlywinks games, so what stops them from doing it in cycling?

[Cruxpearl]

A policeman once stepped in front of Abdujappirhof (spell it like you say it ) in an effort to slow him down in a sprint... there was a very loud bang' date=' lots of blood and skin lost.... it was a very bad idea [/quote'] Djamolidine Abdoujaparov crashed into a side railing board in the Tour, not a Policeman

It was Laurent Jalabert that was in volved in the crash that was caused by the Policeman in the 1994 Tour de France stage in Armenti?res

[Guest Big H]

In one of the early TdF they plotted to kill the race leader (no Yellow jersey yet) I am not sure what happened.

[Sunblock]

It's not just betting, it's also the team's (and sponsors) getting additional contracts worth millions, sometimes tens of millions of dollars. 

 

I've heard that horseracing is bullsh*t.  It's rigged from the start, so is wrestling.  One wonders if money is talking (controlling), what sports aren't rigged, because it's possible they all are.  It may be possible, but somehow I doubt it.  If it was rigged would the guys train so hard?

 

Abdu as I recall wasn't looking where he was going.  He was looking down when he hit the barriers.

[linnega]

They weren't successful, but if memory serves he may have been gunned down later on for being a total prick.  His brother may have been involved.