How can you punish misbehaving spectators during cycling races?

Discussion Although Mathieu van der Poel has been crushing the competition in recent weeks, not everyone is happy with that. The world champion also had to deal with booing and beer throwing during the Tour of Flanders. Flanders Classics and the Belgian riders’ union want to file civil proceedings and the call for punishment is increasing. In the WielerFlits Discussion we wonder: How can you punish misbehaving spectators during cycling races? Respond in the comments.

The unsportsmanlike behavior of some spectators is not new and does not surprise Adrie van der Poel. According to him, these people have drunk ‘way too much’. “It’s disrespectful. I don’t think these people realize what riders have to do to achieve top performance. Not everyone has to be a fan of Mathieu. Then I would say: turn around and don’t clap.”

The police have now started an investigation based on testimonies and online images. Flanders Classics hopes that the police can identify the people involved. If the beer throwers are identified, the organization of the Tour of Flanders will be able to claim compensation during criminal proceedings. That investigation has now been requested by the riders’ union BPCA.

‘A hefty fine could hurt them’
“That way the organization makes their point. I think we need to be quick on the ball. A hefty fine may hurt some people,” says Adrie van der Poel The last news. World champion Mathieu van der Poel himself also noticed the unsportsmanlike actions, but was not fooled by the beer throwers: “I don’t really care. I was trying to win the game.”

With major spring races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race coming up, and later in the year also the Tour de France where the public is always on the sidelines in large numbers, the question is how to tackle these misbehaving spectators. A fine, community service, a lifelong ban on attending cycling races or even a prison sentence? And shouldn’t politicians in the Netherlands and Belgium get involved in this issue?

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