Tour de France- '09

[Sonia59]

Richard, do you happen too know why there are no women in this race. Women do ride bikes.

Perhaps they have a big race of their own that we never hear about?

There is a separate race for women. Unfortunately, it's less famous than the male one, and you can hardly see it on TV programs.
And Jeannie Longo is still participating, of course

[Grace]

While watching some of the race yesterday, I couldn't get over how close the spectators get to the cyclists. So today, a spectator was killed -

A spectator has been killed and two others injured on the Tour de France Saturday after being hit by a police motorbike on the 14th stage, French radio reported.

The accident happened in the village of Wittelsheim, about 40km from the start of Saturday's stage in Colmar.

Organisers confirmed earlier that three spectators were being treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hopsital in Mulhouse.

It later emerged that a woman in her 60s died at the scene.

According to France Info radio the woman was crossing the road after a breakaway group of riders had passed when she was hit by one of the several police motorbikes which accompany the race.

After the collision the motorbike landed on its side, hitting two roadside spectators, a 37-year-old woman and a man in his 60s.

Both victims were transported by helicopter to nearby Mulhouse.

And then there was this -

Police hunt teenagers after two riders are shot

Reuters
Saturday, July 18, 2009 8:20 AM

COLMAR, France (Reuters) - Police are hunting two teenagers after Tour de France riders Oscar Freire of Spain and New Zealand's Julian Dean were shot and slightly injured during Friday's stage, officials said on Saturday.

"This is the work of a pistol or an air gun," Colmar prosecutor Pascal Schulz told a news conference.

"According to one of the riders, (the shots) would have been the work of two youths aged between 16 and 17 who were hiding behind a tree."

Freire, from the Rabobank team, was hit in the right thigh by a small shot during the 13th stage from Vittel to Colmar but the injury did not hamper him.

Dean, part of the Garmin team, was hit on the index finger.

Both riders started Saturday's 199-km stage to Besancon.

An investigation had been opened into a possible crime of voluntary violence with a firearm -- an offence that carries a three-year prison sentence and a fine of 45,000 euros, officials said.

Anyone remember the nutjob who came after one of the Marathon runners during the Athens Olympics? The runner, from Brazil, might possibly have won the race; he ended up with the Bronze.

Weird people out there

[RICHARD]

While watching some of the race yesterday, I couldn't get over how close the spectators get to the cyclists. So today, a spectator was killed -






Anyone remember the nutjob who came after one of the Marathon runners during the Athens Olympics? The runner, from Brazil, might possibly have won the race; he ended up with the Bronze.

Weird people out there

That sucks. The TDF is one of the last major sports events where anyone can get that close to the participants. IT is truly amazing that that more things have not happened, knock on wood.

They caught the kids who did the shooting. Little bees turds!

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Poor George Hincapie. All that work for nothing!