{"id":585407,"date":"2026-05-15T11:57:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T11:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/585407\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T11:57:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T11:57:09","slug":"dont-be-like-this-guy-police-report-giro-ditalia-spectators-who-lunged-at-riders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/585407\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Don’t be like this guy’ \u2013 police report Giro d’Italia spectators who lunged at riders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two men who lunged at the Giro d\u2019Italia<\/a> peloton during stage six<\/a> have been identified and reported by the police, according to media reports in Italy.<\/p>\n

The duo, said to be 19 and 20 years old, spectated Thursday’s stage from a roundabout near San Vitaliano, with around 50km to go, where they dashed into the road and tried to touch the riders.<\/p>\n

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A third man filmed the incident. The footage has since been shared on social media and appears to show all three laughing.<\/p>\n

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A report by Italian outlet Rai<\/a> on Thursday evening said the two men who rushed into the road were identified by the police following the incident, and reported to the public prosecutor\u2019s office in Nola for causing danger during a sporting event. They are understood to still be at liberty.<\/p>\n

If charged and found guilty, the men could receive a DASPO \u2013 a banning order from sporting events, which can also carry fines.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw it all because Thomas Silva [XDS Astana<\/a>, former race leader] was right in front of me, and he told them to go to hell,\u201d said XDS Astana\u2019s Alberto Bettiol, quoted in Gazetta dello Sport<\/a>. \u201cThey don\u2019t realise how fast we\u2019re going\u2026 If we touch them, we\u2019ll all get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the men, wearing a white t-shirt and a fanny pack, appeared to slap the upper leg of a Soudal Quick-Step<\/a> rider on his last of a sequence of lunges into the road. No riders crashed as a result of the behaviour.<\/p>\n

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Respect the riders. Respect the race. Respect the #GirodItalia\ud83e\udef6 Fans, Tifosi. We love you on the roadside. We love your enthusiasm, we love that you cheer on the riders, we love that you dress like flamingos.\u274c But there’s a line not to cross. Don’t be like this guy. pic.twitter.com\/iO7wJNkUOaMay 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The official Giro d\u2019Italia account posted a warning to roadside spectators on X following the incident: \u201cRespect the riders. Respect the race. Respect the Giro d\u2019Italia.<\/p>\n

\u201cFans, Tifosi. We love you on the roadside. We love your enthusiasm, we love that you chear on the riders, we love that you dress like flamingos.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there\u2019s a line not to cross. Don\u2019t be like this guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

XDS Astana\u2019s Davide Ballerini went on to win Thursday\u2019s stage<\/a>, which finished on rain-dampened cobbles<\/a> in Napoli. Asked about the incident after the stage, Ballerini said: \u201cThey didn\u2019t realise what could happen, but I don\u2019t think they wanted to rush into the peloton.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope it’s understood that if they come to watch and cheer us on, they’re welcome, but there must be mutual respect.”<\/p>\n


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