2012 Tour Down Under Stage 1: Prospect to Clare, 149km, 2.WT

[theyoungest]

And only 800m later he was there to win the stage. Unbelievable.

Gotta love the Renshaw fan who works for Cyclingnews, saying that he apparently got caught behind in the carnage from the crash and still got 9th. Well, how about Greipel then

 

[will10]

Not Greipel at least, he was up front when the crash happened, you can even see him look back right after the crash.

You sure? I'm beginning to think it was him, given that it looks like no other Lotto guys involved and he said this after the finish:

"There was a massive crash with 800 metres to go. My pedal got touched and I lost positions from about 5th to 20th. But I managed to bridge the gap."

 

[maltiv]

Not Greipel at least, he was up front when the crash happened, you can even see him look back right after the crash.

The guy who is looking back is not Greipel (if it is, then he must have performed the fastest shoe-changing in history, given that the guy glancing backwards has yellow shoes).

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Gotta love the Renshaw fan who works for Cyclingnews, saying that he apparently got caught behind in the carnage from the crash and still got 9th. Well, how about Greipel then

In fairness, there's being caught behind and then there's being caught behind. Assuming the guy with the great bike handling actually was Greipel, he did lose places but wasn't put out of the running.

That said, it is a bit one-eyed to single out a decent sprinter for praise for managing to come ninth.

 

[Andy99]

Tweet from Mick Bennett, technical Director of Tour of Britain;

https://twitter.com/mickbennett2/status/159352709705777154

Seems a fair point!

 

[jens_attacks]

Tweet from Mick Bennett, technical Director of Tour of Britain;

https://twitter.com/mickbennett2/status/159352709705777154

Seems a fair point!

same thing said by manolo saiz.fair point indeed, it' not amissa bongo there

 

[ferryman]

Sky Sports 2 has 30 mins highlights starting in 8 minutes....

 

[Andy99]

Sky Sports 2 has 30 mins highlights starting in 8 minutes....

Normally I subscribe just for January so I can get the seasons first dose of racing. Given it a miss this year. Tight tw@!

 

[canyonball]

The last km were hectic. Trains changing directions all the time. (It's a sprint finish but still...)

When you get the see the footage from the front camera. It seems like Greipel, Plus, the trajectory and behaviour of the lotto rider that sweeps to the right makes sense with his report on the sprint finish. Respect.

Re: Petacchi. Like Gorilla said, "Just keep the line". It doesn't matter to me whether he couldn't see them or not. He knows he has riders behind him and going from left to right that way it's dangerous riding, IMO.

 

[El Pistolero]

You sure? I'm beginning to think it was him, given that it looks like no other Lotto guys involved and he said this after the finish:

"There was a massive crash with 800 metres to go. My pedal got touched and I lost positions from about 5th to 20th. But I managed to bridge the gap."

Yeah, you're right. Confused him with Sieberg(who has yellow shoes). It's Greipel allright.

 

[will10]

Yeah, you're right. Confused him with Sieberg(who has yellow shoes). It's Greipel allright.

Makes it even more impressive, the guy's in good shape.

Just had a full read of the early pages of this thread, very entertaining ACF, keep it coming.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Petacchi should have been relagated. That sprinting was plain dangerous and could of caused (another) mass pileup.

I must say after watching the highlights that what Vorganov did in the 1st sprint was pretty dangerous as well. It was quite amusing as well because Kohler kicked then he looked around and realised Vorganov had come back up to him and then Kohler realised he had to kick again.

Also Renshaw & Sutton were really well positioned but went backwards once Peta kicked. Greipel came back from way back and still won which is quite amazing. Massive acceleration by him and Kudos!

 

[boardhanger]

I have not seen as dangerous finish as that since the 1980's Ruta Mexico!!! Terrible and shameful route by the race director. No barriers inside the 1KM sign. Also, who the hell puts their kids at such a dangerous location???? This is WorldTour Level not some gungho Cat5 race!!! There will be alot of upset DS's tonught and nervous riders if this is the standard of safety the race has chosen.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Also, who the hell puts their kids at such a dangerous location????

Probably somebody who has never been at the finish of a bike race and who assumed that the absence of barriers meant that there was nothing to be protected from.

 

[boardhanger]

Probably somebody who has never been at the finish of a bike race and who assumed that the absence of barriers meant that there was nothing to be protected from.

Ever heard of marshals at strategic points??

 

[PCutter]

I have not seen as dangerous finish as that since the 1980's Ruta Mexico!!!

Yep, 2km of perfectly straight roads, real dangerous.

Though they should have had more barriers.

 

[BroDeal]

I have not seen as dangerous finish as that since the 1980's Ruta Mexico!!! Terrible and shameful route by the race director. No barriers inside the 1KM sign. Also, who the hell puts their kids at such a dangerous location???? This is WorldTour Level not some gungho Cat5 race!!! There will be alot of upset DS's tonught and nervous riders if this is the standard of safety the race has chosen.

It's World Tour level only because the UCI says so. Pay McQuaid a large enough bribe and your neighborhood crit could be World Tour level as well. That doesn't mean your race suddenly sprouts appropriate barriers.

 

[boardhanger]

Yep, 2km of perfectly straight roads, real dangerous.

Though they should have had more barriers.

Let me put it another way. As someone who's being watching cycling for decades I have seen what parked cars, sand and gravel, and non barrier finishes, create major accidents. Career destroying injuries. No one's aruging about the straight run in? just what was bordering it.....one mistake and the public was at danger along with the riders. Just what happened today. That's why Euro races have more stringent laws concerning these races. Learn't from the past. Will be watching closely for tomorrows hazards

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Ever heard of marshals at strategic points??

Sure, but if there was an absence of marshalls, it wasn't really the spectator's fault. Lots of people who show up to a big local race when there are stars in town don't necessarily know the score. You can't expect them to know that standing on the dirt, off the side of the road, where there are no barriers up, is potentially dangerous. That's one the reasons why things like marshalls and barriers matter.

Supposedly well over 100,000 people showed up yesterday. Many of them won't be people who spend their time on cycling forums in the middle of the night!

 

[boardhanger]

You can't expect them to know that standing on the dirt, off the side of the road, where there are no barriers up, is potentially dangerous.

What are you insane?? Maybe not a child but surely an adult would know this. So yes I'd expect them to be aware potentially of the dangers. Unless they're up all night forum-banging.
p.s it still quite early in the evening where i am situated on this planet It was a dangerous finish. End of.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

What are you insane?? Maybe not a child but surely an adult would know this.

Having seen a group of adults attempt to saunter across a road just in front of the Tour of Ireland peloton, I think that you are being radically optimistic.

People don't understand how fast professional riders go. And they don't understand that a clipped wheel in the middle of the pack can mean bikes and riders flying everywhere.

 

[boardhanger]

Having seen a group of adults attempt to saunter across a road just in front of the Tour of Ireland peloton, I think that you are being radically optimistic.

People don't understand how fast professional riders go. And they don't understand that a clipped wheel in the middle of the pack can mean bikes and riders flying everywhere.

My sentiments exactly, and I did see some dangerous things in the Tour of Ireland which I thought about inserting. Parked cars etc.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I must say that Geraint Thomas needs to be careful when pulling off for a leadout as he has been close to causing accidents in the past. He seems to just stop pedalling which is dangerous.

 

[craig1985]

I remember when Graeme Brown caused Tom Steels to have a serious crash at the Tour of Qatar all the riders in the dining room of the hotel told him to go home, it wouldn't be surprising if that starts happening to van Hummel and Feillu.

 

[Kwibus]

I remember when Graeme Brown caused Tom Steels to have a serious crash at the Tour of Qatar all the riders in the dining room of the hotel told him to go home, it wouldn't be surprising if that starts happening to van Hummel and Feillu.

Please stop this ridiculous hysteria. I agree that both don't have the best reputation, but they ain't the only sprinters.
Both of them didn't do anything wrong yesterday.