Chris Froome kicks off at spectators

For all his success on the bike, Chris Froome isn’t the most popular rider with European cycling fans. Or his own team, for that matter, but that’s a different story.

When fans booed him on today’s Route d’Occitanie stage, he reacted as most of us would: by making a rude gesture and yelling something obscene in French.

Fun enough for all involved. He yelled “vas chier connard,” for what it’s worth. That means “fuck you, asshole.”

Cycling’s the most magnificent sport in the world partly because of the incredible access you get to it. You can ride the same roads as the pros, and you can even come close enough to touch them. It’s like being able to run alongside Leo Messi during a Barcelona game.

But don’t do this. Agitating and abusing the riders will only result in… well, pretty funny video clips. But still, don’t do it.