2012 Tour de France - stage 3: Orchies - Boulogne-sur-Mer (197km)

[roundabout]

Well that's just the first week of the Tour, it will happen regardless.

The 2014 start should be in Trentino.

Some of the roads in the last 30km were a bit iffy. But of course then came the last km on a wide road and they still crashed and misjudged corners (seriously, what was that from the VAcansoleil rider?).

So yeah, either Trentino or 4 lane wide highways for the first week. And yes, I know, crashes happen. But it's annoying to see riders lose a lot of time because of being in a wrong place at a wrong time (the crash where the field split seemed to happen close to the front?).

 

[The Chicken]

Omfg thank **** for that :d :d :d

 

[Mellow Velo]

How would Wiggins losing the few seconds he was on course to losing "settle a 3 week race"? He caught a lucky break and took full advantage of the rules as they stand. Which is smart, but is always going to irritate some people.

And how many seconds do you want to guess at?

Again, with the Wiggins/Sky blinkers.

I'm think more about Menchov who it would cost a minute and a half, through no fault of his own.
Or would you credit him with exemption?

It's a racing incident and thems the rules. Happens all the time in sprints. Folks don't complain when riders amble in, having a chat, then.

 

[WillemS]

Looks like everybody got the same time:

http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/us/classifications.html

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Regardless of the crash it was quite surprising to see the likes of Wiggins near the back before a steep finish. They could easily have lost a cheap 10 seconds

 

[Maxiton]

Sky unclipped or slowed behind the crash out of desire to be careful, since there was no penalty for being careful but plenty of penalty for not being careful. Wiiggins doesn't want to lose before he has a chance to win. Smart racing.

 

[Pippo_San]

Lol the madness of you fanboys always amazes me

 

[asdfgh101]

The bands confirm that it was Wiggins, seems to be deliberate. Why do you have to hate Team Sky to point this out? This forum will have no bearing on the decision of the commisaires.

 

[Frosty]

Danielson +9.11

 

[The Barb]

The field was just starting to stretch out when the crash happened and Wiggins was so far back that there is a good chance there would have been at least one time gap before him, meaning he could've lost perhaps 5-6 seconds on Evans. The isue I have is that he gained an advantage from the crash, rather than just avoiding a disadvantage.

I don't think it's "Sky bashing" but just that riders who ride at the front (as Cadel was) ought to be rewarded for burning the extra energy to minimise the risk of crashes.

 

[Galic Ho]

What are you talking about? Have you been in a bunch finish with 30 others guys going at 50km/h and you are only inches away from each other? It only takes one person to take out a whole chunk of the peleton and most of the time it's unavoidable.

Besides, bonus seconds weren't in place to reward guys who could stay on the bike.

Troll. Nobody was doing 50km up that slope. Nobody calls the troll out. Nice job, perhaps you can coach the riders on how one can achieve that kind of pace. They are doing 25km average on that slope. Maybe Sagan hit 30km. For a little bit. Nice try. Trollololololol on some more.

Arnout is right. Clear as day. Greipel and Freire got too close. Hit Vancansoleil rider. He drops, takes two guys out, Wiggins was well back with Rogers, they have meters on their right but move leftwards and Wigans puts his foot down. Laziness. Arnout was right, they could have missed the crash. The rules need major revamping. Riders are clearly milking it. Have been doing so for years. Nobody was near Wiggins because he was that far back. Team Sky have major issues going on. This is definitely ending in tears. Laughs are stockpiling up.

All this shows is that riders can make an effort to be in the front, to be safe, to get points and some lazy ******s can not even try and know they'll get a freebie. Dock the Sky goofs 10 seconds. What was Froome's excuse for being ten seconds faster than Vandevelde? He doesn't deserve the same time as everyone bar Sagan, unless injured. Barrier or no barrier. Oh, I took forever to hop back on my bike. If you take excessive time, you should be docked, unless injured adequately or a mechanical. Putting your foot down because you were once again poorly placed and riding next to the crash happy Rogers isn't good enough. Cancellara, Nibali and Evans got their act together...cycling is handing out way too many freebies these days. If riders got their actual time, then it would be interesting. It's about energy exertion. You work you get time, someone who takes a freebie should lose time on you. Especially when it's blatantly obvious.

In light of what many riders did on that final time, CVV and his group with Gilbert have been shafted. Stupid and idiotic. You think certain riders didn't milk it...you're an apologist for lightweights. Cycling is a hard sport. Rules should be hard to.

 

[Frosty]

196 finishers so everyone bar Sivtsov and Rojas made it to the end. Gonna be some sore people out there though.

 

[Arnout]

You forgot that Wiggins was clearly powering up the climb in 50th position completely in control of the race thanks to his altitude training.

Lol

Sorry for poor quality, it's from NOS.nl replay. No overhead shots yet unfortunately.

Look at the time difference between picture 1 and 2, and the amount of guys closer behind the crash in 1 than the two Sky helmets at the back, that managed to clear the site in 2.

I'm now not sure anymore if Wiggins was more behind, he could've been one of the two Sky riders, I cannot see from this picture, but I don't see more Sky behind either. It doesn't change the fact that they were somehow very slow in avoiding the accident.

 

[UlleGigo]

Any link where I can watch it?

Link to crash

 

[karlboss]

Sanity prevails mt for all

cut off...menchov

 

[cineteq]

Cancellara, Nibali and Evans got their act together...cycling is handing out way too many freebies these days. If riders got their actual time, then it would be interesting.

In light of what many riders did on that final time, CVV and his group with Gilbert have been shafted. Stupid and idiotic. You think certain riders didn't milk it...you're an apologist for lightweights. Cycling is a hard sport. Rules should be hard to.

+1 Politics getting in the way of racing, and rewarding the lazy ones.

 

[Bala Verde]

Total Forum Freak Out.

Chill people.

It's only stage 3.

There is still plenty of time for major ITT mechanicals.

 

[goggalor]

There was a 2" gap between Klöden and Kiserlovski (who wasn't hindered by the crash). It would be more fair if those who stopped were be given +8" instead of EBH's time of +1".

 

[roundabout]

Danielson +9.11

****. They really only have Hesjedal now.

 

[The Sheep]

I'm now not sure anymore if Wiggins was more behind, he could've been one of the two Sky riders, I cannot see from this picture, but I don't see more Sky behind either. It doesn't change the fact that they were somehow very slow in avoiding the accident.

Wiggins is a terrible bike handler is the reason of course.

 

[Arnout]

Troll. Nobody was doing 50km up that slope. Nobody calls the troll out. Nice job, perhaps you can coach the riders on how one can achieve that kind of pace. They are doing 25km average on that slope. Maybe Sagan hit 30km. For a little bit. Nice try. Trollololololol on some more.

Arnout is right. Clear as day. Greipel and Freire got too close. Hit Vancansoleil rider. He drops, takes two guys out, Wiggins was well back with Rogers, they have meters on their right but move leftwards and Wigans puts his foot down. Laziness. Arnout was right, they could have missed the crash. The rules need major revamping. Riders are clearly milking it. Have been doing so for years. Nobody was near Wiggins because he was that far back. Team Sky have major issues going on. This is definitely ending in tears. Laughs are stockpiling up.

All this shows is that riders can make an effort to be in the front, to be safe, to get points and some lazy ******s can not even try and know they'll get a freebie. Dock the Sky goofs 10 seconds. What was Froome's excuse for being ten seconds faster than Vandevelde? He doesn't deserve the same time as everyone bar Sagan, unless injured. Barrier or no barrier. Oh, I took forever to hop back on my bike. If you take excessive time, you should be docked, unless injured adequately or a mechanical. Putting your foot down because you were once again poorly placed and riding next to the crash happy Rogers isn't good enough. Cancellara, Nibali and Evans got their act together...cycling is handing out way too many freebies these days. If riders got their actual time, then it would be interesting. It's about energy exertion. You work you get time, someone who takes a freebie should lose time on you. Especially when it's blatantly obvious.

In light of what many riders did on that final time, CVV and his group with Gilbert have been shafted. Stupid and idiotic. You think certain riders didn't milk it...you're an apologist for lightweights. Cycling is a hard sport. Rules should be hard to.

Exactly, thanks for describing it in proper English and without the red mist before my eyes. Just read this message and you can ignore all my rants.

 

[DenisMenchov]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qJpVF0DxXA

 

[Hawkwood]

I saw the overhead once, hence I'm not sure if I saw it right. It looked as if a Sky rider (Wiggins) went right to avoid the crash, but was caught by a Sky rider heading left, only thing he could do was unclip. But need to see slo mo overhead.

 

[Arnout]

There was a 2" gap between Klöden and Kiserlovski (who wasn't hindered by the crash). It would be more fair if those who stopped were be given +8" instead of EBH's time of +1".

Also this. It's so bloody annoying when you know this is going to be the only stage in the first 8 days of Le Tour where there can be some time differences because of aggressive racing and it's all being nullified because of some rule that is out of place in this situation.

 

[Hawkwood]

Total Forum Freak Out.

Chill people.

It's only stage 3.

There is still plenty of time for major ITT mechanicals.

+1 this will be a distant memory in three weeks time!