106th Scheldeprijs (1.HC) 04/04/2018

[Alexandre B.]

Tony Martin among the disqualified riders. How ironic.

 

[Kazistuta]

Re:

Tony Martin among the disqualified riders. How ironic.

Ironic how?

 

[SKSemtex]

Re: Re:

Not sure why they need to use a route with a level crossing that has the possibility of closing as the race passes. Surely it wouldn't be too hard to work these things out and avoid them. At the very least it's pretty dangerous expecting a reasonably sized group of riders to suddenly come to a complete stop from 50km/h when the race is on just because some red lights are flashing.

I am sure they do not create routes with too many level crossings on purpose. But sometimes it is just inevitable and with trains passing more often than once per hour there is no way you can time it right.

But the other point you made is a real problem. In a race, riders simply ignore traffic lights or signs. UCI can not expect riders to notice specifically only lights before level crossings. Of course when barriers are down, they should notice that. So the only solution is that before each crossing there is a marshall responsible for stopping the peloton if red lights start flashing. It can not be left up to the riders to be responsible for noticing that.

Yes. there should be definitely marshall there and if there is some difference between the break and peloton it should not be the problem to measure the time difference and enable the break the same advantage as before the inevitable stop on a level crossing. Easier to say than done but still possible to do.

 

[lmrt]

anyone with a skybet account the odds for Kittel havent changed since Demare and Gronoewegen DSQ. Still at 9/4 when other bookmakers have him at unbettable odds. Worth a shot for sure!

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Not sure why they need to use a route with a level crossing that has the possibility of closing as the race passes. Surely it wouldn't be too hard to work these things out and avoid them. At the very least it's pretty dangerous expecting a reasonably sized group of riders to suddenly come to a complete stop from 50km/h when the race is on just because some red lights are flashing.

I am sure they do not create routes with too many level crossings on purpose. But sometimes it is just inevitable and with trains passing more often than once per hour there is no way you can time it right.

But the other point you made is a real problem. In a race, riders simply ignore traffic lights or signs. UCI can not expect riders to notice specifically only lights before level crossings. Of course when barriers are down, they should notice that. So the only solution is that before each crossing there is a marshall responsible for stopping the peloton if red lights start flashing. It can not be left up to the riders to be responsible for noticing that.

They should really avoid them completely if trains are passing through every hour. Surely there's enough bridges to avoid busy crossings like that. It's a completely unnecessary risk to rider safety; whether having a barrier across the road or forcing riders to come to a sudden stop because of a light. And it makes a joke of the race if one group has to wait for a couple of minutes while everyone else flies straight across.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

Tony Martin among the disqualified riders. How ironic.

Ironic how?

‘Cause he’s going wild about security in races.

 

[Yingge]

Re: Re:

Not sure why they need to use a route with a level crossing that has the possibility of closing as the race passes. Surely it wouldn't be too hard to work these things out and avoid them. At the very least it's pretty dangerous expecting a reasonably sized group of riders to suddenly come to a complete stop from 50km/h when the race is on just because some red lights are flashing.

I am sure they do not create routes with too many level crossings on purpose. But sometimes it is just inevitable and with trains passing more often than once per hour there is no way you can time it right.

But the other point you made is a real problem. In a race, riders simply ignore traffic lights or signs. UCI can not expect riders to notice specifically only lights before level crossings. Of course when barriers are down, they should notice that. So the only solution is that before each crossing there is a marshall responsible for stopping the peloton if red lights start flashing. It can not be left up to the riders to be responsible for noticing that.

They should really avoid them completely if trains are passing through every hour. Surely there's enough bridges to avoid busy crossings like that. It's a completely unnecessary risk to rider safety; whether having a barrier across the road or forcing riders to come to a sudden stop because of a light. And it makes a joke of the race if one group has to wait for a couple of minutes while everyone else flies straight across.

Looks like the crossing was at Krabbendijke in NL, not far west of the Canal crossing. The only alternative in that area is the Freeway.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Who is QS leader today? Jakobsen or Hodeg?

 

[therhodeo]

Re:

Who is QS leader today? Jakobsen or Hodeg?

Wonder who is team leader out of Jakobsen or Hodeg for the Steppers ?

Jakobsen.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Who is QS leader today? Jakobsen or Hodeg?

Jakobsen has the #1 bib number but I haven't seen confirmation of who will sprint anywhere.

 

[alexix7]

Hodeg has much bigger chance to challenge Kittel in sprint i think.

 

[Ursus]

Re: Re:

Not sure why they need to use a route with a level crossing that has the possibility of closing as the race passes. Surely it wouldn't be too hard to work these things out and avoid them. At the very least it's pretty dangerous expecting a reasonably sized group of riders to suddenly come to a complete stop from 50km/h when the race is on just because some red lights are flashing.

I am sure they do not create routes with too many level crossings on purpose. But sometimes it is just inevitable and with trains passing more often than once per hour there is no way you can time it right.

But the other point you made is a real problem. In a race, riders simply ignore traffic lights or signs. UCI can not expect riders to notice specifically only lights before level crossings. Of course when barriers are down, they should notice that. So the only solution is that before each crossing there is a marshall responsible for stopping the peloton if red lights start flashing. It can not be left up to the riders to be responsible for noticing that.

They should really avoid them completely if trains are passing through every hour. Surely there's enough bridges to avoid busy crossings like that. It's a completely unnecessary risk to rider safety; whether having a barrier across the road or forcing riders to come to a sudden stop because of a light. And it makes a joke of the race if one group has to wait for a couple of minutes while everyone else flies straight across.

Looks like the crossing was at Krabbendijke in NL, not far west of the Canal crossing. The only alternative in that area is the Freeway.

True, the only other road suitable for a peloton there is the A58 motorway. The rail line the riders crossed is also the only rail line in Zeeland, because the area near Krabbendijke is the only area where Zeeland is connected by land to the rest of the Netherlands.

Funnily enough I went to Krabbendijke two months ago for a local amateur football/soccer match and after leaving when the match had finished I had to wait the very same crossing the riders fell foul of today.

 

[Scarponi]

Either way their race was over, wait the minute for the train to go or get DSQ

 

[DNP-Old]

Re: Re:

Who is QS leader today? Jakobsen or Hodeg?

Jakobsen has the #1 bib number but I haven't seen confirmation of who will sprint anywhere.

Steels said it.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Who is QS leader today? Jakobsen or Hodeg?

Jakobsen has the #1 bib number but I haven't seen confirmation of who will sprint anywhere.

Steels said it.

Ah okay; I missed that

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Hodeg with a flat at 14km to go....

 

[shalgo]

Hodeg is out of it after the bike change.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Kittel with a puncture!

 

[Gigs_98]

Hodeg and Kittel both with a mechanical :lol:

 

[DNP-Old]

Re: Re:

Who is QS leader today? Jakobsen or Hodeg?

Jakobsen has the #1 bib number but I haven't seen confirmation of who will sprint anywhere.

Steels said it.

Ah okay; I missed that

Severals reasons, according to Steels: 1) Jakobsen has more pure speed than Hodeg, 2) Jakobsen has more experience in echelon racing, for example.

 

[ruamruam]

Kittel will get back but he wasted a lot of energy

 

[Gigs_98]

The peloton is so thinned out, someone might be able to pull a Pöstlberger

 

[Netserk]

Much more than just a sprint!

 

[Lemonbaloon]

Kittle is done. I know it cost some energy to change wheels and stuff, however this is weak...

 

[UselessToo]

great edition of that race