2014 - 98th Ronde van Vlaanderen, 259km, Sunday 6th April (1.UWT)

[happychappy]

Here's the crash:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8tBa4Uc5OA

And the report:

http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/videozone_ENG/140406_summeren

What a ****ing stupid place to stand.

 

[SaMRisE]

Is there a link for the video inside Trek's team car the moment Cancellara won?

 

[winkybiker]

What a ****ing stupid place to stand.

I can't agree. Standing on the median at least gives the riders a clue not to ride there. The guy that crashed (JVS) was already crashing before he hit the spectator. If anything, the spectator cushioned his fall?

(Why do people do iPhone videos in portrait mode?) (Why do people shoot crappy videos instead of watching the race?)

 

[Bushman]

What a race. What a winner. I used to "hate" him. But he is f...g excellent. Strong and smart. I like Netserk, but it is above time he change his signature.
I visited two munuments in two weeks. In both of them Sagan did not delivered as much as was expected, so I was quite sad on the finale, but this time I do not regret a single minute and EURO here. People were amazing, very friendly and helpful, atmosphere in Oude Kwaremont fantastic, beer excellent. It is impossible to compere this weekend to one from Italy.
I hope I will return next year.

Respect to you. A lot of people tend to be stuck in the past and have a hard time giving credit where it is due if they dont like the "style" of the rider (BTW no Boonen/Cancellara discussion intended here).

It must have been an unbelieveable experience on the Kwaremont, i'll definately go there some Day.

 

[cocteau_ireland]

I am 100% going there next year. "Bruges? F****n' Bruges?!"

 

[Volderke]

I can't agree. Standing on the median at least gives the riders a clue not to ride there. The guy that crashed (JVS) was already crashing before he hit the spectator. If anything, the spectator cushioned his fall?

(Why do people do iPhone videos in portrait mode?) (Why do people shoot crappy videos instead of watching the race?)

It is like watching a rally. Why would you honestly stand in a place where you know that riders can crash frontally (by accident)? Guys with the yellow flags already are shi#$% in their pants when they have to warn for an obstacle / traffic island, but these people choose to stand there. They knew that one rider taking some risks or having misjudged the situation could be a frontal crash. Unfortunately it happened...
The woman (65) is still in critical condition, I really hope she will come out one day relatively OK...About the iphones, I don't get it either but I used to take little vids myself just holding the camera up and watching the race at the same time. So it's not impossible to watch and record simultaneously.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

What a ****ing stupid place to stand.

Her standing position was the same as that of the people standing near her, to whom no harm came.
Van Summeren's riding move directly caused him to become a (potentially, let's hope not de facto) lethal weapon.
Maybe she should not have been there, but she was not alone in being on the central reservation, and being on a raised kerb was in a position analogous to any other of thousands of kerbside spectators.
Van Summeren leapt onto a kerb without looking to see what was on it. I know which of the unfortunate pair I think was ****ing stupid.

I like Van Summeren: I hope he recovers quickly, both physically and psychologically. But if this woman's family were to sue, I suggest that Van Summeren wouldn't have much of a defence.

 

[Kwibus]

Her standing position was the same as that of the people standing near her, to whom no harm came.
Van Summeren's riding move directly caused him to become a (potentially, let's hope not de facto) lethal weapon.
Maybe she should not have been there, but she was not alone in being on the central reservation, and being on a raised kerb was in a position analogous to any other of thousands of kerbside spectators.
Van Summeren leapt onto a kerb without looking to see what was on it. I know which of the unfortunate pair I think was ****ing stupid.

I like Van Summeren: I hope he recovers quickly, both physically and psychologically. But if this woman's family were to sue, I suggest that Van Summeren wouldn't have much of a defence.

You are right, but people should also use common sense.

 

[T-Nielsen]

I am 100% going there next year. "Bruges? F****n' Bruges?!"

"Its an inanimate ****ing object!"

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

About Kristoff, he seems to get stronger as the miles get longer. I'm really impressed by him the last 3 seasons.
He used to be the more limited version of Hagen. Now he's the better one. An improved version of Hushovd I'd even dare to say.

I now believe Kristoff could win RVV one day, even outright following the best and then winning in a sprint..

 

[Volderke]

Van Summeren leapt onto a kerb without looking to see what was on it. I know which of the unfortunate pair I think was ****ing stupid.

I like Van Summeren: I hope he recovers quickly, both physically and psychologically. But if this woman's family were to sue, I suggest that Van Summeren wouldn't have much of a defence.

Unfortunately for your theory, but Vansummeren didn't leap (look at his front wheel how bad it was hit). He just hit the curb stone at full speed and didn't even realize where he was riding (he wouldn't be stupid to leap a traffic island while ignoring there were people right in the way of his path) and smashed head first into the women, who fell hard with her head on the pavement. So without people, he would have crashed as well.

Maybe very interesting stuff for insurance and lawyers, but I guess that is really very very not interesting for the family of the victim and Van Summeren who was really in shock.

 

[wayahead]

Great race, everything from Koppenberg till finish! Deserved winner, three of my favourite riders on the podium Cancellara so strong, but hats off to the second of the strongest Vanmarcke and to brave GVA as well. As a Sagan fan I have to accept his defeat and it was spectacular one, wasn’t it? But it’s a sport, sometimes you’re a hammer, sometimes you’re a nail. And sometimes you’re a Cancellara.

Unfortunately Sagan has to win P-R now to safe his classics season, tough job

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

The guy that crashed (JVS) was already crashing before he hit the spectator. If anything, the spectator cushioned his fall?

That was my initial thought. However, I managed a pause on the video that shows that JvS had actually got up onto the traffic island with both wheels down. Indefensibly, he did so without looking to see what was on the island.

 

[Cancellator]

Unfortunately for your theory, but Vansummeren didn't leap (look at his front wheel how bad it was hit). He just hit the curb stone at full speed and didn't even realize where he was riding (he wouldn't be stupid to leap a traffic island while ignoring there were people right in the way of his path) and smashed head first into the women, who fell hard with her head on the pavement. So without people, he would have crashed as well.

Maybe very interesting stuff for insurance and lawyers, but I guess that is really very very not interesting for the family of the victim and Van Summeren who was really in shock.

I hope both of the victims of this crash will make it out alright.

I was wondering, is there any way for Vansummeren to be made legally liable for the woman's injuries? Are riders insured against this sort of thing?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Unfortunately for your theory, but Vansummeren didn't leap (look at his front wheel how bad it was hit). He just hit the curb stone at full speed and didn't even realize where he was riding (he wouldn't be stupid to leap a traffic island while ignoring there were people right in the way of his path) and smashed head first into the women, who fell hard with her head on the pavement. So without people, he would have crashed as well.

Maybe very interesting stuff for insurance and lawyers, but I guess that is really very very not interesting for the family of the victim and Van Summeren who was really in shock.

Judicious/fortuitous pausing of the video disproves this. He can be seen with both wheels undented and on the island.

However, if you would rather "defend" Van Summeren by suggesting that he was careless enough to ride at full speed across hash markings on the road towards a high kerb perpendicular to his course without looking, feel free.

I am neither suggesting nor advocating a legal case, nor would I want anyone to take the impression that I think it's likely to be in their minds. I used a hypothetical scenario to express my opinion as to where culpability lies.

 

[Carols]

Here's the crash:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8tBa4Uc5OA

That is Horrific

What the heck where those people doing standing in the middle of the road and with a child. DUMB!!!

 

[Benotti69]

Judicious/fortuitous pausing of the video disproves this. He can be seen with both wheels undented and on the island.

However, if you would rather "defend" Van Summeren by suggesting that he was careless enough to ride at full speed across hash markings on the road towards a high kerb perpendicular to his course without looking, feel free.

I am neither suggesting nor advocating a legal case, nor would I want anyone to take the impression that I think it's likely to be in their minds. I used a hypothetical scenario to express my opinion as to where culpability lies.

I saw a photo (see below) and his front wheel been dented.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BkiI7qXIIAAb9D0.jpg

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

I saw a photo (see below) and his front wheel been dented.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BkiI7qXIIAAb9D0.jpg

That was not the case immediately before the impact. Try pausing at 00:14 of the video.

 

[The Hitch]

"Its an inanimate ****ing object!"

You''re an inanimate ****ing object

 

[Volderke]

Just to go a little deeper into the Van Summeren crash:
I. he did it clearly without intention to hit either the curb, or a spectator.
II. the fact that he did hit both, makes me wonder what he was doing:
1. either he tried to reconnect with the part of the peloton riding on the other side (no real need as the road was straight and the traffic island short);
2. either he just lost control of his steering;

It's clear he was shocked, but I wonder if the scenario would make a difference regarding who is (partly) to blame.
In the first case, he is maybe more responsible if he crossed intentionally.
In the second case, the crash into the spectator is the unfortunate result of a crash like any other in a race, so no intentional crossing of the traffic island.

It has to be seen, too, if traffic island like these should have been evacuated from spectators, and if there was a guy with yellow flag in front of the first part of it. Maybe the race organizers and/or police have been faulty...

 

[onicolsorfco]

Is there a link for the video inside Trek's team car the moment Cancellara won?

Yes please, that was such an awesome shot, really want to see that again

 

[Benotti69]

That was not the case immediately before the impact. Try pausing at 00:14 of the video.

From my viewing of the video he impacted the curb. But a terrible video to judge anything definite!

 

[cocteau_ireland]

You''re an inanimate ****ing object

Who knew ralph fiennes had such comedic nous. Continued in the grand budapest hotel. Has he got a euro city fixation going on?

 

[cocteau_ireland]

For the first time in 25 years, no italians or french in the top-10.

 

[onicolsorfco]

Yes please, that was such an awesome shot, really want to see that again

NVM: http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/vide...aanderen/MV_140406_RVV_Trek_ploegauto_vreugde