January 13, 2010
Cyclocross fans, breathalyzers and the word “go”
For those of you who follow international cyclocross, the sordid event that took place in the Belgian national cyclocross championships this past weekend isn’t news. For those of you who don’t pore over the international results, let me just recap the situation for a second – it seems that a drunken supporter of 2009 Belgian cyclocross champion Sven Nys reached out and grabbed the arm of reigning World Champion, Niels Albert, causing him to crash, and breaking a rib in the process. Not only did Albert lose any chance of winning the race as a result of the crash, but with a broken rib, he now has a difficult time with hard accelerations and any sort of climbing.I have personally endured my share of broken ribs and am here to say that there really isn’t any possibility that Albert will be defending his rainbow jersey this time around at the Worlds. That, my friends, is a terrible thing. I really would like to write something harsher here, but am consciously making an effort to abide by my own rule of keeping this at least a PG -13 rated site.
Cyclocross has long been a bike racing discipline that has leant itself to a strong party atmosphere. Racing cyclocross, I have been heckled, have personally heckled, and have thoroughly enjoyed watching other racers and fans engaging in similar activities. Taking a rider out of contention, however, for whatever reason, is absolutely unforgivable. Albert, who currently leads the Superprestige and the World Cup, has been officially screwed by someone he was there to entertain. What’s worse, depending upon how the rib heals, Albert may have problems with it for the rest of his career.
In addition to Albert’s misfortune, Sven Nys’ victory has been overshadowed by the antics of one jerk, who apparently fancied himself more important than the race itself. People have been running alongside the European peloton, looking for their 15 seconds of fame, for many years now and I doubt much is going to change that fact. But the riders do not like it -- let me assure you of that. It is scary. The Devil has been a regular fixture on the Tour de France since 1993 has been photographed more than many of the race’s competitors and has even managed to land some sponsors - all of which to me is a bit of a bummer. While the Devil’s antics have been fairly respectful, costumed and non-costumed fans continue to cause problems for riders who are just trying to make a living.
I am in no way trying to infringe upon anyone’s right to watch sports in a party atmosphere -- I mean, let’s face it; if beer, booze and tailgating were suddenly no longer allowed at major ball sporting events, attendance would decline radically and/or people would actually have to watch the game. If a library atmosphere were to be inflicted upon cycling and everyone watching had to perfect their golf-clap before being allowed to find a spot on the side of the road, there would be fewer people lining the Route du Tour, as well.
But, my dear hecklers, may I respectfully request that if your blood alcohol level is high enough that you cannot legally drive, which for most people is just over a beer or two, keep your f#%*$!g hands in your pockets, above your head, clapping together, holding your beer, holding money for the riders, or shoved squarely up your a$$. Similarly, if you are in danger of failing a roadway sobriety test, stand in one (1) (ONE) place – do not attempt to run, walk or crawl alongside the riders. Professional bike racers, believe it or not, like to be heckled – they just don’t like to be knocked off their bikes and they don’t like to be breathed upon by drunky the clown. In fact, unless you are offering free beer or money, or are a naked woman, the average Euro-based pro does not understand the purpose of your costume, and wishes you would trip on that costume and fall.
While we’re here, let’s talk for just a moment about language …
Race fans, I beg you; if you are a native English speaker, the word for “go” is … wait for it … “go.” I mean no disrespect here for the hordes of people who took a few years of French in school, but if the origin of your passport is USA, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Canada or other English-speaking country, use an English term to indicate that you want the people you are yelling it at to know that you are cheering them on.
As an American abroad, I heard “allez” a lot. After a while it became the same noise that Charlie Brown heard … “wahh wahh, wah wah wah wahhh.” However, when confronted with the odd, “c’mon” or “go” I was suddenly gifted with superhuman hearing and a sudden resolve to push on the pedals just a little bit harder. Don’t get me wrong, either, I can hardly even communicate bike racing without translating Flemish bike racing terminology back into English, and love the old school ways and languages of bike racing, but the sport has evolved to the point where English is no longer the outsider language in the pro peloton. By the way, I am in no way suggesting that you shouldn’t attempt to at least learn how to say “please” and “thank you” but belting out a good ol’ English “go” in no way makes you an ugly ‘merican.
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8 Responses to “Cyclocross fans, breathalyzers and the word “go””
Joe, thanks for this commentary. It seems like for the past few years, cycling has been appealing to somewhat of a hooligan element, or perhaps unveiling the hooligan element in otherwise normal folks.
It was painful to watch the ToC, seeing all the idiots running alongside the pack. Hard to believe no one tripped, fell, and took out the very riders they were cheering on.
What happens at cross races, while maybe not as potentially dangerous (Albert’s incident aside) is often rather vile. Verbal heckling is one thing, but keep your hands, beer, and saliva (etc.) to yourself.
I am not a huge Lance fan, but his shove to the Syringe Devil was great to see, as was the reaction of the other riders who saw it.
Looks like a bit of a misunderstanding:
From CX Mag:
“Patrick Beniest, a race spectator, mistakenly hit his elbow, causing him to swerve across the icy course and crash twenty yards later. Albert’s stem impacted his chest to break his ninth rib on the right side of his body, exactly where the bike leans when he’s shouldering it.
“In an interview immediately after the race, Albert was quick to name the culprit as a Sven Nys supporter because, when he looked back immediately after falling, he saw a collection of Nys supporters clapping for him. It was later discovered that it was one of his own fans who was wearing his Albert supporter cap during the incident. Since then, the man has publicly apologized to Albert for hitting him with his arm, blaming the special shoes he needs to wear for his bad back combined with the icy ground and too much beer. Albert has also apologized to Nys for his hastiness in calling the guy a Nys fan.”
http://cxmagazine.com/niels-albert-injury-update?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CyclocrossMagazine+%28Cyclocross+Magazine%29
Yeah, I’ve been reading and listening to the continuing coverage of this from the Belgian media and was going to add an update. There’s a pretty nice little interview with Beniest on sporza that has him apologizing from a bar stool, while reasonably impaired. Albert has done a good job apologizing to Nys’ fans and to Nys himself, but I reckon he is not acknowledging Beniest as one his own fans either …
Whichever side Beniest is on, this kind of thing sucks for everyone involved, including the legitimate fans. Personally, I cannot understand why anyone would want to do something if it took being so chemically altered to enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong, I come from a long line of drinkers and love me the heck out of boozes of all colors, shapes, flavors and nationalities, but it seems to me that if you can’t enjoy watching something while at least reasonably sober, (at least some of the time) then that something must be boring as hell – go watch something else.
FYI, Canada is not a strictly English speaking country. Lots of French is spoken there too. The Quebs are more likely to yell “envoye!”
unless, of course, you’ve landed in Montreal on a flight filled entirely with Euro bike racers and heard the laughter of an entire 747 when the poor gate agent begins to speak French.
I love Quebec, but didn’t want to my pal Dre to get his nose pinched by being left out of that English speaking group. ; )
Hold it here now. What did I miss? It went from a post about a drunk guy elbowing the world champ to in a snap being told that Canada is not only an English speaking country?
What the heck does that have to do with the post Joe? Why does someone always have to put in that Canada has two languages?
We know this. My step daughter a Canadian was in Mexico on vacation this Christmas she was told in the small town that there was new people that sold Canadian food. They went. It was Poutine. A Quebec fast food. They met the couple who owned the place and it was New Years Eve They were drunk.
She said hey you are Canadian and they said no we are Queberers. So my Stepdaughter asked for them to show their Quebec Passports.
Enough said. We know you speak french in Quebec.
-B
Re “Hooligan” sport. While this is bad, this IS cycling and always has been. Cycling has been a hooligan sport since day 1. It has always been part of the sport. Things like this are stupid though.
Sorry, but I have to but in here as an anglo-phonic and yes, franco-phonic Canadian. Canada does in fact speak two languages. However, if you think the Quebecers speak anything close to French ask some of your Parisian, Lyonnaise, Nordoise, etc. friends if they understand a word coming out of Quebecers mouths. The answer is emphatically no. Quebecers speak Quebecois, not French. If it makes it easier to understand, think of the Haitians. They speak Creole, not French.
The article was great. Thanks for the news.
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