Part of cycling’s charm is the access fans have to the sport, being able to follow in the wheeltracks of their heroes on the same roads (how many football fans could just pop to Wembley for a kickabout, or cricket fans to Lord’s?), and getting within an arm’s length when a race whizzes by.

But an increasing number of incidents at races this year are starting to cause concern about how close fans can get during the sprint finishes.

Australia’s Loren Rowney (Velocio-SRAM) broke her collarbone when a fan brought her down in a sprint finish earlier this year, while Daniele Colli (Nippo-Vini Fantini) suffered an horrific broken arm on stage six of the Giro when a fan appeared to lean too far over the barriers.

Add to that the nutter on a fixie who tried to join the peloton during stage two, also causing a big crash, and you start to get the picture.

The access fans can get to the sport is a huge part of cycling’s appeal, culture and heritage but spectators need to stay at a safe distance and give the peloton the respect it deserves. A bunch sprint is no time to lean over the barriers for that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ photo.

We don’t want fans banned from the roadside, or forced back behind rows and rows of barriers, but if we’re not careful, that could well be what it comes to.