Originally Posted by
kunsunoke
Think of this from the standpoint of the riders. They've busted their behinds for months to get ready for the Tour and everything they've worked for can be undone in a fraction of a second by some attention seeking idiot or some irresponsible dog owner. So, yes, the riders push back. Why wouldn't they?
Let me be more clear.
I'm OK with a racer pushing a fan who endangers or assaults a racer. The gloves come off. Fair play. If a fan grabs or pushes a racer, I'm OK with the racer beating the hell out of the fan. I've seen racers aggressively and violently SMACK cameras out of fan's hands because the fans had positioned the cameras where they were dangerous. I'm OK with that because the racer needed to do that to protect himself.
This particular fan's behavior doesn't warrant physical violence. He was just an innocent and enthusiastic fan. He wasn't out to disrupt or impede or injure.
Watch the video again. Watch the footage from behind. The fan does not run out into Froome's line. The fan is already running on the side of the road and
as Froome catches/passes the guy, Froome blind sides the fan. I'ts a cheap and dirty shot that the fan never saw coming. Yes, Froome's hand was open, but it was a strike, not a push. A real slimeball tantrum move.
Should the fan be on the road? Meh, probably not. Was
that fan impeding or endangering Froome? Not even close. Froome is directly behind another racer who is clearing the path ahead. The comments about the fan's flag and Froomes front wheel are ridiculous. The fan and his flag are well to the side of the road as the pack is going past him.