A mass surge at the Downhill World Cup in Les Gets: ​When the cheering takes your breath away

The mob storms the finish line

Downhill World Cup final, Les Gets. Max Alran is the last rider to set off down the valley. Green split times, fastest time, ecstasy. The slopes tremble, chainsaws screech, fanfares blare. But chaos breaks out even before he crosses the finish line: a frenzied crowd of fans tears down the barriers and floods the finish area, whilst Max is still heading for the finish arch. Jubilation turns to broken bones. Even the winner, Alran, is forced to flee. The hype of recent years, fuelled by social media, descends into dangerous rioting.

​“That was a wild ride. I’ve never experienced anything like it. The atmosphere was electric, almost dangerous. If you watch Max Alran’s POV run, you can see just how close it was. The organisers really need to come up with a solution for Les Gets. Because there were injuries. People were run over.”

​Canyon marketing manager Sebastian Maag was standing amongst the crowd on the home straight.

Human molecules in a pressure vessel

What begins as a party turns into a physical phenomenon. Once the density reaches six people per square metre, herd behaviour sets in. The crowd no longer reacts as individuals, but moves like water – uncontrollably and in waves. Anyone caught up in this maelstrom is trampled; anyone who crashes into barriers is crushed. Disaster researchers warn: the fault rarely lies with the individual, but is usually down to an inadequate safety plan.

Cause of death: breathlessness – the silent danger

The greatest threat in crowd crush incidents is not injuries from falls, but what is known as compression asphyxia. When hundreds of bodies press down simultaneously, a load weighing several hundredweight is exerted on the chest. Those affected are no longer able to expand their lungs. After just a few minutes, this extreme pressure leads to death by suffocation – even before help arrives.

Rules for surviving the hustle and bustle

To ensure the festival doesn’t turn into an emergency, there are clear rules of conduct to follow in the crowds:

• Take evasive action in good time: Leave the area before it becomes too crowded. Familiarise yourself with the escape routes in advance.
• Avoid narrow passages: Keep your distance from fences, walls and bottlenecks.
• Staying steady: Stay on your feet. Falling can be life-threatening.
• Protecting the chest: Cross your arms over your chest like a boxer to ensure you have enough space to breathe.
• Go with the flow: Never push against the crowd; instead, work your way out diagonally to the side.

We urge everyone: Celebrate, yes; rioting, no!
Event organisers must make drastic improvements to their safety plans. But fans also have a responsibility: true sporting spirit protects lives, rather than risking one’s own health for the sake of the next viral video.