It has gradually become a daily sight in contemporary cycling. On almost every climb the spectators are lined up and there are always some crazy people who don’t step aside for the riders. “There is an urgent need for professionalization, because at the moment everyone is just doing something,” says Jan Bakelants.
It could hardly be more amateurish at the top of the Joux Plane.
Fans everywhere – preferably dressed as conspicuously as possible – could once again jump in the way of the riders unimpeded. To top it all off, 2 motorbikes also blocked Pogacar’s road.
But according to Johan Museeuw, the latter was also due to the excessive amount of fans. “There were just too many people on that climb again,” he noted. “They really need to do something about that.”
“They urgently need to limit how many people are allowed to go up at the bottom of cols,” he continues. “Where we passed, there were again 3 or 4 rows.”
Jan Bakelants sees a double problem. “Too many motards, not enough nadars.”
The person ultimately responsible escapes the dance again.
Jan Bakelants
“For every 100 supporters standing there, there is at least 1 half that takes an extra step forward,” Bakelants continues.
Frustration about the problem is clearly high among the speakers in Vive le Vélo. Even the director gets it on the air.
“First of all, that French director already misses the battle for the bonus seconds, but it is also he who has to send his engine forward”, Karl Vannieuwkerke is sharp. “This is match-fixing.”
Meanwhile, the engines have been given a penalty. They are not allowed to race tomorrow. “But that is just looking for a black Pete,” says Bakelants.
“The person ultimately responsible escapes the dance again. The ASO is clearly responsible for this, but it will of course not suspend itself.”
Due to the many fans and the engines, Pogacar and Vingegaard had nowhere to go.
Chalk lines for professionalization
In any case, they are just examples of a much bigger problem.
“There will never be a structural solution,” Bakelants complains. “The solutions, like putting nadars, are easy though.”
“I actually think it’s part of the sport,” suggests dietician at Jumbo-Visma Ien Vitse. “The fans somehow remain the beauty of cycling.”
“But then we have to ask ourselves whether we want to be a professional sport or folklore,” Bakelants counters.
If it’s Champions League, I won’t be on the pitch either.
Jan Bakelants
“There is increasing professionalization within the teams,” the former cyclist continues. “But this must now also be done within the competition organizations.”
“There must be guidelines within which you have to perform your job. And at the moment that is not the case, because everyone is just doing something.”
“If it is the Champions League, I will not be on the field either. It is as if Ronaldo has to kick a penalty in the final and then we all stand on the large rectangle,” he concludes.
A striking comparison to push the problem under the nose of the fans. Although Pogacar and Vingegaard do of course do more than kick a penalty during the Tour.
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2023-07-15 21:20:49
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