THE Tour de France, simply put, is the largest live participation sporting event in the world.

Can you think of another sport in which those coming to watch do so entirely for free? Can you imagine the World Cup being played in your local park with fans stood on the touchline?

No, and yet that is the experience that we followers of pro cycling get to enjoy; it’s just one of the many reasons that make our sport so special and I wouldn’t change this for the world. But I do feel that there is a certain amount of responsibility that comes with this huge privilege.

I’m going to set my stall out early… I’m not a fan of people running alongside riders in seriously inadvisable outfits – cycling is about style and panache and there is no place for mankinis stretched over beer bellies!

Hardly a mountain stage goes by in the Tour these days without a pro having to push aside an over-zealous spectator, so where do we draw the line between passionate fandom and overstepping the boundary between watcher and rider?

In my opinion, the list below pretty much covers the most important bits.

• DO come and watch, shout, applaud, be noisy, get your club’s jersey on TV and write your favourite riders’ names on the road. It’ll make it even more special when you ride it yourself a day or so later and you can see “Froome”, “Cavendish”, “Contador” and maybe even some poignant ones like “Pantani” or “Simpson”, written into the very roads you are riding on.

• DO use a bit of French… seriously… it’ll help you get into the mood and when shouting out to your favourite team it just sounds better. If you are really stuck, you can’t go far wrong with “Allez”!

• DO try to find the Dutch fans (it probably won’t be hard!). They are the loudest and most passionate of the lot and to see them in action will be “interesting” if nothing else.

• DON’T try to keep up with the Dutch fans in the drinking stakes. You won’t!

• DON’T run alongside the riders for too long (if at all). Climbing a big hill is hard enough without worrying if some spectator is going to take you out.

• DO stay behind the barriers at all times. Watch the Youtube clip of “The Policeman’s Crash” at the 1994 Tour if you need to know why.

• DO please respect the countryside and private property. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to have the Tour in our own backyard. Please don’t give the anti-brigade any ammunition to throw.

• DON’T sit on dry stone walls. Firstly, they are beautiful and part of our heritage. Secondly, I imagine that they really hurt if they collapse on you/your family.

And lastly…

• DO have an amazing time, enjoy the spectacle, the speed, the sights and sound. Be inspired – cycling truly is a sport that rewards you with more when you put more in.

• Christopher Gargett is a Sky Ride leader and can be contacted on Twitter @yorkvelo.