The closed door is a wobbly concept, especially in cycling. City of departure and arrival of 4e stage of Paris-Nice (a 15 km time trial), Wednesday March 11, Saint-Amand-Montrond (Cher) has not been emptied of its population to avoid contact with runners due to the risks COVID-19. “But people are just a few meters from the buses behind the barriers. Unlike team sports, it’s impossible to do a real camera ”, notes Julien Jurdie, sports director of AG2R-La Mondiale.
Perhaps not, but Armaury Sport Organization (ASO) prohibits the presence of spectators in the last 300 meters of the stages. Departing this Wednesday, however, guests can take their place in their dedicated space about fifty meters from the runners on the launch pad. The announcer only has the list of cyclists to unroll to furnish and apologizes: "We cannot hand over our microphone to runners for health reasons". But to " exceptional circumstances, exceptional measures. And the public understands it well you know ", says ASO's cycling director, Christian Prudhomme, interviewed by Le Parisien.
"Normally, Julian always comes to snap"
In the city of Julian Alaphilippe, the message may be getting through, but it is lived with a mixture of disappointment and misunderstanding. Blocked in two rows of metal barriers of their champion, they are about twenty to try to see him in full recovery on his home trainer. "Normally, Julian always comes to snap and chat a bit. I do not see why we are forbidden to approach runners, it sucks Sighs Dominique, a friend of the Alaphilippe family.
The heart rate once down and the cloud of photographer evacuated, the Frenchman smiles and launches the discussion – from a distance – with his supporters. His relative underperformance of the day (25e) is quickly evacuated and its natural takes over. "Hey the Catoche!" Sorry, I can't come and kiss you ", he says to an acquaintance. Asked about this funny context, the Deceuninck runner prefers to see the glass half full. "It's good that we can run. For me, it’s still a special day, it made my heart warm to be encouraged by my supporters. "
But until when ? Milan-San Remo has been canceled, the Tour of Catalonia too and the spring classics are also on the way. "I can't imagine the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix without an audience, says Alain Delœil, sports director of the Cofidis team. The public is an integral part of cycling races. From the start, I don't feel like I'm really on Paris-Nice. " Christian Prudhomme reaffirmed to him that the "race for the sun" would go well in Nice on Sunday. In silence and behind barriers.
