UCI chief worried about “hooliganism” in cycling fans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDWufYNkdQI

With hindsight now taking stock of this year’s race, UCI president Brian Cookson is concerned about the unruly, less well-behaved Tour de France fans that were seen at the roadside in groups, and occasionally in the middle of the road, frequently targeting Team Sky riders. It indicates the rise of hooliganism in cycling, he fears, and the hooligans are seeming to come out of the woodwork in greater numbers.

The 2015 Tour saw several unpleasant incidents. Sky’s Richie Porte was punched by a spectator on stage 10, the Australian cyclist said; at another point, teammate and Tour winner Chris Froome was sprayed with urine.

But it can be speculated why the British team, of all teams, found itself significantly on the receiving end of such abuse, however inexcusable. Controversy about Froome’s performance haunted the rider, with accusations of doping, either directly or insinuated, dogging him through many of the stages. At times, Froome’s response to those claims took a somewhat combative tone, with the Sky rider addressing over social media what he heard as an accusation from former French rider Laurent Jalabert, comments that would deepen the controversy.

“If you’re going to deny making statements about me maybe you should remember that you’re being recorded on Live TV/Radio,” Froome wrote on Twitter on July 19.

Some fans, it seemed, took exception to that.

.@JalabertLaurent if you’re going to deny making statements about me maybe you should remember that you’re being recorded on Live TV/Radio

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 19, 2015

In response, Sky found itself on the receiving end of increasing vitriol as the Tour rolled through France, something that took many unpleasant forms. Still, if it was in response to any controversy about the legitimacy of his success, Froome was quick to note that it was ultimately the actions of individuals at fault. “Those individuals know who they are,” he said. “And it’s individuals; all the others have been fantastic and supportive. What those fans are doing is not acceptable.”

The UCI chief agreed. “I think Chris was subjected to a fairly nasty form of antagonism from a small number of people,” Cookson said.

However small the groups, though, Cookson worries that their behaviour might mark worsening conduct in cycling fans, something he says is becoming a more serious issue than it was before. “I am worried about the beginnings of an element of hooliganism coming towards our sport, which we have largely been able to avoid in recent years,” he said. The lashing out against Froome during the Tour was one thing, “[but] there was also a little bit of slightly joking, slightly hooligan-type behaviour in places with cars being kicked and things being thrown at support vehicles,” he added.

Even then, though, Team Sky was in the rather unpleasant crossfire. Fans beat their fists against the Team Sky support car, said Sky general manager David Brailsford. As he drove up the Alpe d’Huez, the peloton behind him, other fans threw beer across the windshield. Throughout, a chorus of boos followed.

Security was beefed up at the race compounds, of course, but there was little to be done to prevent individual fans from launching projectiles at the team, especially Froome, as it rolled along. And that, Cookson said, risks ruining the sport for others. “The Tour de France, all of cycle racing, is a great free sport,” he said. “It is possible to get close to the athletes, to the competitors, in a way that is not really possible in any other sport.”

“If we want that to continue, then we all have a responsibility to behave.”