Advocacy & Safety - Tour death

I think we all need to take a moment and think about the poor woman who lost her life to a Tour de France escort Motorcycle today. This is tragic and emphasizes the fact that in Europe cycling can and is viewed from a drastically different perspective. RIP.

I'm missing something here. What does the European view of cycling have to do with someone stepping out in front of a motorized vehicle? It's fortunate that nobody else was killed, and too bad that she learned a lesson the hard way. So far they've been very fortunate not to lose a rider due to some of the idiots on the road that don't keep back. On the Tour of California Lance Armstrong shoved an idiot into a snowbank because he was endangering the riders.

It is just sad that someone died. No meaning intended. Just sad.

I saw that Cadel Evans and another rider were shot by pellets from an air rifle a day or two before, so the French gendarmes were out on motorcycles on the course looking for mischief makers. It's very strange how unaware of danger a lot of the spectators seem to be. Perhaps they're just so used to it, it's lulled them a bit.

RIP to the woman and condolences to her family.

Sad, yes. But surprising that some spectator is not killed every year. Tour coverage a couple of years ago, said spectators get their toes run over every year by the support cars. Give credit to the drivers.

And I heard that the teenagers with the BB gun got caught.

Kind of my point exactly. The European access to the biggest road bike race in the world is amazing. I was there in 1990, and the pandemonium is just bizarre. It is a wonder there are not more injuries/deaths. I do want to say though that Phil Liggett has given me and my cohorts "Philisms" that will never be forgotten.

She was killed by a ceremonial policeman on a motorcycle. What relevance does that have to anything here?

It's sad and tragic, sure, but I fail to see what discussing it can contribute.

Well, accidents do happen. Just observe simple safety rules and things should largely be fine

She was killed by a ceremonial policeman on a motorcycle. What relevance does that have to anything here?

It's sad and tragic, sure, but I fail to see what discussing it can contribute.I have always questioned why people who have no interest in a thread, feel so compelled to post in it.:rolleyes:

It seems there has been more deaths to spectators, than riders in the Tour.

I think there has been only 2 to riders (Simpson, Casartelli) and off the top of my head I remember some other spectator dying from a fall from a viewing point after the riders passed. There must have been others.

Sad, yes. But surprising that some spectator is not killed every year. Tour coverage a couple of years ago, said spectators get their toes run over every year by the support cars. Give credit to the drivers.

And I heard that the teenagers with the BB gun got caught.



This is true, the spectators need to step back and get out of the middle of the road. I am suprised that dozens of people are not get ran over every year.

Well, accidents do happen. Just observe simple safety rules and things should largely be fine

Surely you jest. This is AnS, somebody should be pointing out that the riders need to be taking the lane to better assert themselves.

Surely you jest. This is AnS, somebody should be pointing out that the riders need to be taking the lane to better assert themselves.

Was the victim wearing a helmet?

I seem to recall at least one spectator being struck and killed by a cyclist competing in the TdF. The cyclist was injured, but OK. This has been some years ago now.

I have always questioned why people who have no interest in a thread, feel so compelled to post in it.:rolleyes:

I saw the thread title and hadn't heard of a death in the TdF yet. I read a bit of the thread, then decided it was worth catching up on the news. I read the news, then questioned why the thread was even in existence.

Logical, no? :)

I seem to recall at least one spectator being struck and killed by a cyclist competing in the TdF. The cyclist was injured, but OK. This has been some years ago now.

then there was that dog that was hit a couple of years ago. the rider got the worst of it, but still won the stage!

I'm missing something here. What does the European view of cycling have to do with someone stepping out in front of a motorized vehicle? It's fortunate that nobody else was killed, and too bad that she learned a lesson the hard way. So far they've been very fortunate not to lose a rider due to some of the idiots on the road that don't keep back. On the Tour of California Lance Armstrong shoved an idiot into a snowbank because he was endangering the riders.

Spot-on post.

I think we all need to take a moment and think about the poor woman who lost her life to a Tour de France escort Motorcycle today. This is tragic and emphasizes the fact that in Europe cycling can and is viewed from a drastically different perspective. RIP.

Only for a moment. A spectator death was bound to happen, considering how, the don't stay off the race course and, make it practically impossible for a cyclist to continue.

It is slightly analogous to, when the Beatles were in their heyday and, the fans were going crazy over them.

There should be more police along the route of each stage to keep spectators off the course.

If the woman's death, isn't a wake-up call to race officials, to keep spectators off the course and, to spectators to stay off the course, then more spectator deaths are likely to occur.

I'm missing something here. What does the European view of cycling have to do with someone stepping out in front of a motorized vehicle? It's fortunate that nobody else was killed, and too bad that she learned a lesson the hard way. So far they've been very fortunate not to lose a rider due to some of the idiots on the road that don't keep back. On the Tour of California Lance Armstrong shoved an idiot into a snowbank because he was endangering the riders.

If you're dead, can you be said to have learned a lesson?

This is all I have to contribute to this thread. *backs out of room, closes door behind him*

Sorry for even starting the thread, just thought it was something to be brought attention to in this forum. I guess if you have never really have seen European bike racing up close it really does not matter that people are in danger. My apologies.

I think we all need to take a moment and think about the poor woman who lost her life to a Tour de France escort Motorcycle today. This is tragic and emphasizes the fact that in Europe cycling can and is viewed from a drastically different perspective. RIP.


It is just sad that someone died. No meaning intended. Just sad.


Kind of my point exactly. The European access to the biggest road bike race in the world is amazing. I was there in 1990, and the pandemonium is just bizarre. It is a wonder there are not more injuries/deaths. I do want to say though that Phil Liggett has given me and my cohorts "Philisms" that will never be forgotten.


Sorry for even starting the thread, just thought it was something to be brought attention to in this forum. I guess if you have never really have seen European bike racing up close it really does not matter that people are in danger. My apologies.


I'm so confused. Did this have meaning or not?

French police told everyone and emphasized that it was forbidden to cross the road during the tour. They were told to stay off the road. That lady didn't and paid the price.
I have seen many videos of dogs being run over, some killed, some it doesn't even phase them. My heart doesn't bleed for that women, or the people who let their dog run in the road.
dc

I only feel sorry for the driver of the motorcycle that hit her. Hopefully he's not guilt ridden over an incident that could have been avoided if the woman had exercised some common sense.

Look Dobber, Singingsabre: I was just trying to point out that a death is a death! It must be difficult for the womans family. I am currently taking care of a terminally ill father, and I guess my emotions got the best of me. I apologize for intruding on your precious forum.

I definitely think there are some important and relevant issues raised in this thread and that if someone else doesn't think so, they can just move on to some other thread.
My opinion is that these people who jump out in front of the tours and run along need to be shoved out of the way, like Lance or whoever it was did on ATOC more than once, I think.
Death is a little harsh, I guess, but they tell people to stay out of the way. A sick relative or friend is an entirely different matter.
dc

It's very strange how unaware of danger a lot of the spectators seem to be. Perhaps they're just so used to it, it's lulled them a bit.


My buddy's dad was talking to me years about about watching drag racing in the 70s with the top fuel cars. Then their superchargers didn't have belt catches and would often blow during the burnout at the line. He said before there was no buffer between the race track and the fans other than a fence. A belt woudl blow and you'd see 10people go down. They'd haul them off and then 15 more people jumped into their place to get nailed again.

But watching some european races where they race on public roads, people just seem to gather around. I don't know how different it'd be in America but if you watch the Isle of Man TTs with the motorcycles that run close to 200mph, you'll see people just on the banks watching the bikes go buy at high rates of speed...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE7H6f9PVwk