Five rules for Flanders spectators

Today the publicity campaign with five rules of behaviour for the Tour of Flanders is being launched. "The Tour has become a mass-event," organiser Wim Van Herreweghe said to HLN. "The hills are real party-zones, with marquees set up by private firms, big screens, toilet facilities. We have to take measures to handle the big group of people."

One of the solutions it to have 100 race-stewards on the parcours and placing more fencing on the prominent hills. Also, 200 policemen will see to it that the public stays courteous and follows normal road regulations while going from one point to the other on the parcours. Last year no less than 497 official reports were made up, and the police warns they will be even more vigilant this year.

Last year, the organisation introduced the flag code (don't wave flags in front of the riders), but they have now added four other rules:

1. Don't push the riders
2. Stay behind the fences (or cords) and if there aren't any, stay on the side of the road
3. Respect road traffic regulations
4. Don't step onto the parcours until the green flag has passed. (a UCI commissaire and two police motorcycles will accompany the green flag car)

Courtesy of Sabine Sunderland