PARIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) — Could cycling be the most democratic sport to watch at the Paris Olympic Games? As tens of thousands of fans lined the streets of Paris and back the sides of the road in the towns and villages men’s road race passed through on Saturday, the answer might be ‘yes’.
While nearly every event at Paris 2024 requires a ticket, with prices going sky-high for the most popular events – which probably explains the number of celebrities visible in the stands – watching the cycling is free.
All you needed to do in order to get a good view of the action is to get there early to enjoy the drama of watching Remco Evenepoel complete a historic double by adding Olympic cycling road race gold to the time-trial gold he won a week ago.
“We drove to Paris from Bilbao (northern Spain),” Xabier explained to Xinhua.
He said he was with his son and daughter and they have managed to get tickets for the athletics stadium on Friday, although they were “very expensive.”
“But I’m really here for the cycling, we want to go to the hill on Montmartre, because the race goes up there several times and that is where it could be decided.”
British cycling fan Aiden Jackson was in the center of Paris with his mother to watch the race and they said Paris was a perfect venue for the race.
“There are so many pretty spots in Paris to choose from, and it’s good we can just watch without having to go and find a ticketed seat.”
“Cycling is a great sport to see,” he added and watching the massed ranks of cheering fans crammed on the pavement along the cobbled kilometer long climb up to Montmartre it’s hard to disagree.
Swiss cycling fans with cow-bells turning the city climbs into an approximation of an Alpine pass, French supporters with their tricolor flags, chanting ‘Allez les Bleus’ and going crazy for Julian Alaphilippe.
And of course, the Belgians, perhaps the biggest cycling fans in the world, hoping to see a repeat of their spring ‘Classic’ races, over sharp climbs and cobbled streets, while hoping for glory from Wout van Aert and Evenepoel, who had already brought them glory in the time trial last week.
“These are the Olympic Games that are going to be held closest to my home and I have fans and family here. To be able to share with Belgians is very special,” commented Evenepoel after his historic ride.
While last Saturday’s races were held under leaden skies and pouring rain, producing roads like a skating rink and the temptation to watch from indoors, this Saturday had almost perfect temperatures for fans and riders.
Julie, an Olympic volunteer, agreed, but added that cycling wasn’t the only sport that fans can enjoy for free.
“I think they have done a very good job here in Paris, with events that people can watch free in a lovely setting. The cycling is spectacular, but we also had the triathlon and the 20-kilometer walk and of course we will have the marathon next week,” she commented.
Without, of course, forgetting Sunday’s women’s road race.
