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Tour Director Says Fans Spat At Armstrong
Reuters ^ | July 21, 2004 | Reuters

Posted on 07/21/2004 1:04:05 PM PDT by BluegrassScholar

L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France (Reuters) - Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc has admitted he had seen fans spit at five-times champion Lance Armstrong during the 15.5-km time trial to L'Alpe d'Huez.

Leblanc also said the swarming crowds on the twisting climb on Wednesday had frightened him as riders, including Armstrong, were forced to weave through excited fans who jumped out on to the road.

"I was scared too and I felt relieved when we reached the section with barriers," Leblanc told Reuters after stage winner Armstrong described the stage as a "bad idea" and hit out at some German fans.

"Until this morning, everybody thought this time trial was a good idea and now we realised it was not so.

"There were lots of aggressive fans surrounding the riders and I even saw two idiots spit at Lance Armstrong."

"Unfortunately I doubt you can put barriers on the 14 kilometres of the climb," he added.

Armstrong, who stormed to victory nearly a minute ahead of his closest challenger Jan Ullrich and now looks set for a record sixth Tour win, urged organisers to think seriously about holding another time trial at the ski resort.

"I don't know if that's such a good thing for the Tour de France. I don't think it's safe. I think organisers should watch out," said the American.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: lancewilleatcrow; sherylspitstoo
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France is really starting to p*ss me off.
1 posted on 07/21/2004 1:04:07 PM PDT by BluegrassScholar
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To: BluegrassScholar

The spitters could be from anywhere in Europe. I saw this today and was amazed how close the crowds were.


2 posted on 07/21/2004 1:08:08 PM PDT by dennisw (Once is Happenstance. Twice is Coincidence. The third time is Enemy action. - Ian Fleming)
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To: dennisw

Damn those Europeans are sophisticated.


3 posted on 07/21/2004 1:09:29 PM PDT by johniegrad
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To: BluegrassScholar

The French should know better then to spit on a liberal American opposed to the Iraq War.


4 posted on 07/21/2004 1:10:20 PM PDT by pete anderson
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To: BluegrassScholar

It was most likely German's doing the spitting. If your country was run by socialists and has 12% unemployment and your guy was getting his @ss kicked by an American, you'd be pissed, too.


5 posted on 07/21/2004 1:10:21 PM PDT by UNGN (I've been here since '98 but had nothing to say until now)
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To: dennisw

Okay...EUROPE is really starting to p*** me off!


6 posted on 07/21/2004 1:11:54 PM PDT by rhc2000
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To: BluegrassScholar
France has descended to a 3rd world country. Fan response at the Tour is just a prelude to what we can expect at Athens. I pray for all of our athletes safety and those of our true friends.
7 posted on 07/21/2004 1:12:36 PM PDT by afnamvet (Where facts are few, experts are many...Donald R. Gannon)
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: TelephoneMan
I mean why not, they have tried sabotage, rule changes, and flat out hostility towards him

Let's not forget the constant (all hours of the day & night) drug testing. That's why he left France & brought a place in Spain.

9 posted on 07/21/2004 1:15:35 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: TelephoneMan

I am still suspecting that a fan is going to take Lance out by some means such as a stick in the spokes.


10 posted on 07/21/2004 1:15:52 PM PDT by Phantom Lord (Distributor of Pain, Your Loss Becomes My Gain)
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To: BluegrassScholar
Reply by winning !
11 posted on 07/21/2004 1:16:22 PM PDT by traumer
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To: Puppage

Getting a place is Spain didn't get him out of drug testing.


12 posted on 07/21/2004 1:16:40 PM PDT by Phantom Lord (Distributor of Pain, Your Loss Becomes My Gain)
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To: BluegrassScholar

Some of the graffiti on the road was hostile as well, e.g. "Lance Sucks," "EPO Lance." But one bit was great. It said "Cut their balls off Lance." Indeed.


13 posted on 07/21/2004 1:16:46 PM PDT by drew (fear of a liberal planet)
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To: BluegrassScholar

The French fan are just lovely. They did the same thing to one of the Williams sisters as well. They hate winners, and American winners most of all.


14 posted on 07/21/2004 1:17:33 PM PDT by cyborg (http://mentalmumblings.blogspot.com/)
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To: BluegrassScholar
France and John Kerry...........

Two class acts!

15 posted on 07/21/2004 1:17:38 PM PDT by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (I don't believe anything a Democrat says. Bill Clinton set the standard!)
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To: Phantom Lord
Getting a place is Spain didn't get him out of drug testing

Of course not, but it did pretty much stop the 3am drug testing, though.

16 posted on 07/21/2004 1:18:19 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: pete anderson

...but I thought the French love Americans, they just hate our gov't? :>


17 posted on 07/21/2004 1:18:42 PM PDT by BrooklynGOP (www.logicandsanity.com)
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To: johniegrad
Damn those Europeans are sophisticated.

We're supposed to emulate them, right?

18 posted on 07/21/2004 1:19:34 PM PDT by The_Victor
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To: dennisw

The spitters could be from anywhere in Europe. I saw this today and was amazed how close the crowds were.

Those spitters could've been any radical fringe group goons using Mr.Lance Americana as their scape goat regardless of his political affiliation. Besides most people in general get tired of the same person/team winning year after year. The masses over the course of mankind always go for and relate better towards the under dog. Lance hasn't been an underdog in a long time.


19 posted on 07/21/2004 1:21:11 PM PDT by SunnySide
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To: BluegrassScholar

And Americans were supposed to carry the label of "ugly".


20 posted on 07/21/2004 1:21:39 PM PDT by sandbar
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