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Tour de France 2021 (may contain spoilers)

Engee
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I think we need a little perspective here. This was one spectator out of hundreds of thousands who line the roads of the Tour each year. There’s always the occasional idiot at any gathering and as my father taught me, never underestimate the stupidity of people, but when you think about it, it’s amazing this sort of thing happens as infrequently as it does.

Sure, she needs to be punished somehow, but my guess is that her feeling of shame and remorse is immeasurable as it is.
 
madjestikmoose
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Engee Engee
I think we need a little perspective here. This was one spectator out of hundreds of thousands who line the roads of the Tour each year. There’s always the occasional idiot at any gathering and as my father taught me, never underestimate the stupidity of people, but when you think about it, it’s amazing this sort of thing happens as infrequently as it does.

Sure, she needs to be punished somehow, but my guess is that her feeling of shame and remorse is immeasurable as it is.
This. How to ruin your life with one stupid mistake. We've all made them and I know how I'd feel.
 
vbrad26
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We need more riders like good ol' Alberto Contador

S5d4_hk6T5iNRM2MVlH07dxT7MH-ov7NmyOaOxj9B9Q.jpg
 
madjestikmoose
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vbrad26 vbrad26
We need more riders like good ol' Alberto Contador

S5d4_hk6T5iNRM2MVlH07dxT7MH-ov7NmyOaOxj9B9Q.jpg
More dopers?? No thanks. Anyways, looks like they've let her off - the lawsuit's been dropped.
 
vbrad26
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Can't a man just enjoy a steak and punch some people? Jeez.
😁
 
MRC
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Nice gesture of appreciation from Jasper Philipsen.

_119174142_gettyimages-1326467795.jpg
Edited:
 
Engee
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madjestikmoose madjestikmoose
More dopers?? No thanks. Anyways, looks like they've let her off - the lawsuit's been dropped.

the tour organisers have said they won’t sue her but she is facing a charge of unintentionally causing injury which carries a possible fine of €1500 as I understand it.
 
MRC
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Some thoughts on Opi-Omi-gate

If it was the first time the young woman had been at the roadside for a stage of a major race she would not have realised how fast the peloton is moving. Most people think "bicycle = 15kph". On the flat or even a slight uphill these guys are at 45kph+ and in no-wind conditions are spread right across the road. They arrive before you know they're there if you haven't seen it before. Look at my photo of André Greipel, I was standing in the ditch at the side of the road, it was mild downhill and they were doing 50kph+. So he is looking hard at me to see if I'm going to do something stupid. Some combination of grey hair, 20 years of going to the Tour and a new £1000 camera meant that I was not going to 😉

We don't see if she was originally standing with one foot on the level of the road, but if she had been the police moto riders just ahead of the peloton would have waved her back, they do their best and I have a great regard for the work they do. So I suspect she stepped up at the last moment, looking in the wrong direction.

As a penalty -- how about an direct apology in person to those most affected by the crash, and 5 years duty at crowd control, at her own expense?

x1241766-93653b06409fe5dd610f9cbc0c04718b.jpg.pagespeed.ic.TJNj2xiWQ2.webp
 
madjestikmoose
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Engee Engee
the tour organisers have said they won’t sue her but she is facing a charge of unintentionally causing injury which carries a possible fine of €1500 as I understand it.
Looks like it will depend if any riders/teams file suits now… in which case, potentially a €15k fine & a year in chokey. Personally I’d be surprised if they do, it sounds like she’s been through enough, but you never know.
 
simonsays
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MRC MRC
Nice gesture of appreciation from Jasper Philipsen.

_119174142_gettyimages-1326467795.jpg

It looked close to an appeal to me, but who would take a stage off Cav right now?
 
marco
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With this Quick-Step team and Cavs confidence UP another stage is possible !
Patric Lefevere is "old school" but a great motivator. The team believe in MC , expect more.
Unbelievable !
Edited:
 
Léon P
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madjestikmoose madjestikmoose
Looks like it will depend if any riders/teams file suits now… in which case, potentially a €15k fine & a year in chokey. Personally I’d be surprised if they do, it sounds like she’s been through enough, but you never know.

Let's see.... She managed to force a crash which took out about 100 riders. More than 20 bikes were broken/destroyed. At least one rider had to retire from the race, due to the injuries suffered. The bikes average $12K USD each. The doctor/hospital bills are going to be incredibly high. The livelihood of the retired rider is uncertain.
All this so she could grab ten seconds of herself on camera, then run away when she caused the accident.
Not even the Dutch half of me can shrug this off, with the the normal, "Le Tour; c'est Le Tour."
 
Léon P
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MRC MRC
Some thoughts on Opi-Omi-gate

If it was the first time the young woman had been at the roadside for a stage of a major race she would not have realised how fast the peloton is moving. Most people think "bicycle = 15kph". On the flat or even a slight uphill these guys are at 45kph+ and in no-wind conditions are spread right across the road. They arrive before you know they're there if you haven't seen it before. Look at my photo of André Greipel, I was standing in the ditch at the side of the road, it was mild downhill and they were doing 50kph+. So he is looking hard at me to see if I'm going to do something stupid. Some combination of grey hair, 20 years of going to the Tour and a new £1000 camera meant that I was not going to 😉

We don't see if she was originally standing with one foot on the level of the road, but if she had been the police moto riders just ahead of the peloton would have waved her back, they do their best and I have a great regard for the work they do. So I suspect she stepped up at the last moment, looking in the wrong direction.

As a penalty -- how about an direct apology in person to those most affected by the crash, and 5 years duty at crowd control, at her own expense?

x1241766-93653b06409fe5dd610f9cbc0c04718b.jpg.pagespeed.ic.TJNj2xiWQ2.webp

You're quite right. I think that I've been a spectator at perhaps 27 Tours, as well as a dozen or so Giros. I was very young at my first Tour, and EVERYONE was reminding the younger fans to respect the riders by allowing them plenty of room to ride by. We yelled our heads off, cheering on our favourites (Allez, Pou-Pou!! ALLEZ!!!!), but we all tried to stay well back of the peloton as it flew past. There was always plenty of time to hunt for autographs and photos AFTER the daily Stage, but we NEVER did anything to impede the race.
I shake my head in wonder...
 
rob#1
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Back to the racing - a bloody long stage ahead, followed by the first foray into the mountains. I’m always blown away by how the riders can sprint up steep hills after many hours racing. Here’s Van Der Poel taking flight at the end of Strade Bianchi - just look at the angle of the ascent!

79AABB88-D343-466D-84EA-097D35D35738.png
 
vbrad26
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I probably couldn't even make it up that hill even if I had just started fresh from the bottom lol
 
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