"We could charge 4 or 5 euros to access the climbs" - Richard Plugge makes a radical proposal to ensure rider safety
Cycling
Spectators at the road side and their freedom to come and go as their please are part of what gives road cycling its unique vibe. While the atmosphere at races can be electrifying, misbehaving fans can cause troubles to the competing riders, but also on the way back from mountain finishes when team buses are not allowed to wait on top of the climb.
"It's increasingly dangerous for the riders," Richard Plugge said during a Vive le Vélo broadcast. "They have to descend among the spectators, also on bicycles or in cars, who aren't used to doing that."
Plugge then explained how riders had to descend from Col de la Loze, using whistles to warn spectators of their presence, in order to get to a team bus. His proposal to solve this situation can be seen as rather radical:
"We should try to keep people and tourists on the climb as long as possible. Or we could charge 4 or 5 euros to access the climb. That way there would be many fewer spectators. Just asking for a small fee would discourage most people from coming. On the other hand, I really appreciated the atmosphere on the climbs. It was a real popular celebration, but the teams' descent to the valley needs to be better organized."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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