Armstrong is Right: Time Trial to Alpe d'Huez Was Too Dangerous
Yesterday, Lance Armstrong again demonstrated his mastery of the competition in the 2004 Tour de France by winning the Stage 16 mountain time trial to Alpe d'Huez. It was not surprising that Armstrong considered the stage dangerous because of the sheer number of fans on the sections of the course that did not have barriers:
It was a little scary. The Pyrenees were exactly the same, so it wasn't necessarily abnormal. But [on Alpe d'Huez] you had longer sections of four and five kilometres with people on the road.
Perhaps the most surprising development was how quickly Tour de France race director Jean-Marie LeBlanc called the venue choice a mistake.
As I said yesterday, my wife and I made the pilgrimmage to Alpe d'Huez in 2001 for Stage 10. There were more people than ever before on the mountain, but I think the crowd was still manageable. We were able to drive up from Grenoble, find a little space on the lower slopes of the mountain, enjoy the Caravane and the race, and return to Grenoble in one long day. That doesn't seem to have been possible this year.
It seems like Alpe d'Huez reached a critical point during last year's Centenary Tour. People seemed to accept the size of the crowd back then as if it would be a one-time inconvenience. However, the crowd grew even larger and more unruly this year, probably because most cycing fans concluded that the mountain time trial could be the Tour's decisive moment. I don't think that continued crowd growth at Alpe d'Huez is in anyone's interest, and the Tour organization should do something to disrupt the momentum.
If I were the Amaury Sports Organization, I would seriously consider not including Alpe d'Huez next year. There are several places where the Tour could have a mountain-top finish in the Alps. One place I'd like to see the Tour return to is Sestriere, Italy. I think the last time the Tour visited there was 1999. Sestriere might have trouble hosting a stage finish next year because they will be preparing to be a venue in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
I don't have any first-hand knowledge of the Tour venues in the Pyrenees, but the crowds looked just as crazy and difficult to control in some places as they did at Alpe d'Huez. I think the rate of growth of the crowds in the Pyrenees may be faster than in the Alps. Greater venue diversity may be a good idea there as well.
Comments
At one point in the coverage, someone was running alongside a rider (I'm pretty sure it was Armstrong) literally *screaming* in the rider's ear from a few inches away. From the facial expressions involved, the topics under discussion were not intended to boost the rider's self-esteem.
During the post-race interview, I noticed a couple of times where Armstrong almost said something about this and then changed his mind and backed off the topic.
Posted by: Irving Reid | July 22, 2004 11:31 AM
The fact he held his toungue shows the caliber of a man Armstrong is. He knows that the Race Director and others know what's wrong and I'm guessing by holding his toungue he is silently urging them to do something about it. Perhaps, he'll have his say behind closed doors, but I agree, it seemed completely out of control.
With talk of Terrorist and sabotage these days, I am truly amazed nothing has happened to any of the riders on the tour. I think it would be near impossible to secure a racing event. Anyway... with things like that in the forethought of my mind, it's scary to think what people who have ill will may be thinking or planning.
I for one say control the crowds or pick a better venue.
Trae
fitgeek.org
Posted by: Trae McCombs | July 22, 2004 2:40 PM
I expect that some people who haven't actually been there will suggest that the race organizers place barriers for the entire 14 kilometer ascent. That's impractical for a number of reasons that go beyond the number of barriers that would be needed.
At the base of Alpe d'Huez, the road shoulder isn't wide enough for barriers to be erected on both sides that would allow spectators to have standing space behind them. In some places, the pavement extends right up to the mountain side on one side of the road.
If barriers encroached on the pavement, it would make the lines that riders would be able to take around the switchbacks even more unfavorable. I haven't ridden the course, but I've stood in the road and thought about how I'd get a bike around the corners with people standing as close to me as possible.
The organizers showed some creativity with the rules this year, coming up with ideas like doubling the mountain points for mountain-top finishes. What they should be thinking about is how to get more of the spectators who are currently going to the finishing climb to head for one of the intermediate climbs instead.
If you saw today's stage, there was an exciting sprint between Gilberto Simoni and Richard Virenque at the top of the Col de la Madeleine for the Souvenir Henri Desgrange and 5000 Euros. Maybe we need more of those.
Posted by: Dave Aiello | July 22, 2004 3:49 PM
Right,
I guess I should have been more clear but I agree that they do not need, nor could they for reasons you mentioned and others as well, line the whole route with barriers. I do like what I saw today on the course which seemed to be an incresed presence of the french police. Whenever someone got out of hand there was someone there to yank them out of the way and pull them back into the crowd. Maybe this is the way to go?
Of course, common sense and being courteous and staying out of the riders way is much too forward thinking I'm sure. :)
Trae
fitgeek.org
Posted by: Trae McCombs | July 22, 2004 4:08 PM
pretty busy out of town at a triathlon this week, just wanted to add a note that i read on a tour blog that a older spectator was found dead on the alpe. he apprently died from a 130feet fall. i can dig up the link if you need it...
Posted by: josh | July 23, 2004 9:12 PM