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.
Actually, the Germans were booing and chanting "Judas" to Jens Voigt, a German CSC rider who, when riding a breakaway with Jan Ullrich the day before, was ordered back to the peloton to help his teammate Basso, and Postal reel in Ullrich.
Bjarne Riis, CSC's manager was shown on TV passing notes to Johann Brunyell, Postal's manager, as their team cars drove side-by-side before Voigt was ordered to fall back. Riis and Ullrich are not kissing cousins.
Not that it ends there. Today, When Voight was interviewed on Germany's ZDF (like NBC, CBS, etc.), he was taken off the air when he started to blame the ARD (the other German TV biggie)commentators for inciting the viewership.
Now, the word in Germany is to boycott ZDF and ARD and watch Eurosport, instead, in order to spread the message that they won't tolerate censorship, especially since they are taxed to support the TV stations.
Never a dull moment in socialist Germany.
longjack