I have been watching the last few days, and I have seen a bad accident yesterday, where Armstrong had to go through a field to get back on track, and a rider broke his leg, I also see fan's running right beside the riders, also the riders are riding on such a narrow strip of road I'm surprised there hasn't been more accidents either with fans or other riders. I know that fan participation is one of the strong suits of the TDF, but is their any thing they can do to make it safer for the riders?

I read that the most common injury in the tour is fan's feet geting run over by the support vehicles. I wish they would give the riders a little more space, but I guess it's always been a part of the tour.

When I was at the Giro d'Italia, the fans gave the riders a bit more space to ride- we all cheered along on the road, but definitely, we gave the riders space to ride. Besides, they were ripping down the roads so fast, you'd fear for your life!

At the end of the race, however, the fans converged and it was impossible for the riders to get out of the crowd for quite a while. Luckily, they didn't have far to go once the winners were on the podium and got their flowers and kissed the girls, and whatever...

Too dangerous?

Any sport will survive as long as the participants are willing to take whatever risks are inherent to the sport (NHL for instance!). I'm glad to see that they now mandate helmets on the vast majority of the tour - Beloki could have easily died right there on the pavement without a helmet on.

If the riders didn't feel safe (enough) - I'm sure they'd voice loud enough for the organization to MAKE it more secure and safe.

All sports are dangerous to a degree. I think that is a part of the excitement; athletes pushing their bodies to the absolute limits. Sports have always been somewhat dangerous to the fans as well. Hockey fans taking a stray puck to the teeth, baseball fans taking a stray foul ball to the head, football fans drinking and starting fights (), etc.

Not dangerous enough. We need something along the lines of 'Cycling With The Bulls' !

Yes. Watching it can fool you into believing that bike racing actually matters.

Every sport, when practiced with maximum zeal, is dangerous, because there is an inherent tradeoff between performance and safety. The safety margin that the recreational and transportation cyclist demand would render them hopelessly non-competitive in a race.

Sorry, cycletourist, many of us believe that bike racing does matter. Lance is a great inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere. However, I would emphatically agree with you that transportation cycling and fitness cycling are far more important than racing will ever be.

I guess this doesn't apply to Golf.

Actually golfers routinely have shoulder and back problems. Tiger had knee surgery this year. Although, the worst thing that ever happened to me from golfing was a wicked hangover.

Too dangerous? Bear in mind that, in 100 years, there have only been four deaths in the Tour. Not even pro football or hockey can make a boast like that.

Too dangerous is very subjective.
Going to the Farmer's Market is dangerous.

Even if you're not inspired by the racers themselves, bike races have the effect of stimulating innovation in the industry. There's a trickle down effect of technology and also awareness because of things like the TdF. I saw this to a greater effect with mountain biking but it definately has a measurable impact in all forms of cycling.