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

[Christian]

What I wonder is why this family was allowed to stand where they did... was there not a race official waving a yellow flag, as we so often see with these traffic islands, and if so, why did they not tell the family to move to the side of the road?

That said, cycling is a dangerous sport, high speed crashes occur all the time and it can be dangerous even by the side of the road, as we saw with Popovych's crash today. Riders as well as spectators do not always make smart decisions about where to stand and which risks to take.

With regards to legal action, it seems unlikely to me that Vansummeren would have to face anything, since regular traffic law seems to be suspended for professional cycling. For instance if by driving too fast or on the wrong side of the road, you hit someone with your car, then it is clearly your fault since you broke the traffic code, but professional cyclists are basically free to do whatever they want on the road, bar a few UCI rules...

It may well be his fault, but legally I don't know if he did anything "wrong"... in my eyes it is more the organizer's responsibility to guarantee the safety of the spectators, though that of course is also impossible to do, and every adult is responsible for their own actions....

My deepest sympathies for the lady and her family, but also to Vansummeren. Having to live with the responsibility of having caused someone else to be severly injured or even die is one of the worst things I can imagine.

 

[Tournesol]

Joining late and semi drunk,Cancellara is the most complete classics rider of his generation,Tommeke is also terrific but 2015 Ronde.P-R will settle it,Canc worked on his sprint,christ what a cyclist.

 

[kingjr]

You don't stand in a place like this if you watch a bike race, period.

 

[T-Nielsen]

What I wonder is why this family was allowed to stand where they did... was there not a race official waving a yellow flag, as we so often see with these traffic islands, and if so, why did they not tell the family to move to the side of the road?

That said, cycling is a dangerous sport, high speed crashes occur all the time and it can be dangerous even by the side of the road, as we saw with Popovych's crash today. Riders as well as spectators do not always make smart decisions about where to stand and which risks to take.

With regards to legal action, it seems unlikely to me that Vansummeren would have to face anything, since regular traffic law seems to be suspended for professional cycling. For instance if by driving too fast or on the wrong side of the road, you hit someone with your car, then it is clearly your fault since you broke the traffic code, but professional cyclists are basically free to do whatever they want on the road, bar a few UCI rules...

It may well be his fault, but legally I don't know if he did anything "wrong"... in my eyes it is more the organizer's responsibility to guarantee the safety of the spectators, though that of course is also impossible to do, and every adult is responsible for their own actions....

My deepest sympathies for the lady and her family, but also to Vansummeren. Having to live with the responsibility of having caused someone else to be severly injured or even die is one of the worst things I can imagine.

I think one of the reasons the UCI/ASO/Whoever is so adament that the riders sign in at the start, is that it is also part of an insurance. Those who sign is covered or something.

 

[Afrank]

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

Just awesome, love the reaction. Thanks for posting.

 

[arvc40]

Another great victory for Cancellara !. Always finds a way.

 

[Afrank]

That is Horrific

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

They weren't the middle of the road, but on a traffic island which IMHO should be a fine place to stand. As you would expect the cyclists to go around it and not crash over it.

Riskier place to stand then on the side of the road, that's for sure. But most of the blame I think goes to Vansummeren. None of us know the exact situation that lead to the crash. But ideally Vansummeren should have gone around the traffic circle.

 

[SafeBet]

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

Tells a lot about the current level of Italian cycling. This could very well be the worst year ever for us.

 

[Christian]

I do remember a similar incident a couple of years ago at the Tour de France. After the end of a MTF, a rider (I forgot who it was) rode back down the mountain and collided with a spectator. If I recall correctly, the rider was injured and the spectator even went into a coma. The spectator had been from Luxembourg, that's why it was in the news here. It happened recently, in the last 5 years I would say. But I don't know what ever came of it

 

[Christian]

But most of the blame I think goes to Vansummeren. None of us know the exact situation that lead to the crash. But ideally Vansummeren should have gone around the traffic circle.

Maybe he could not avoid it or saw it too late, that sort of thing happens all the time when you are riding at high speed in the peloton... usually it is not a problem and riders can just "bunny hop" it, but what they don't expect is people to stand there....

 

[The Hitch]

How many great reactions have we been robbed off in all the races that didn't have the in care camera.

The nailbiting sprint last year at PR, MTN reaction to Ciolek pulling it off, or especially the pure shock in the Leopard Trek car in Lombardia 11

 

[manafana]

great racing again today really enjoyed the race.

 

[Panda Claws]

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..

Agreed. I was really surprised about him changing on his own, made me think back of Peter Sagan in RVV 2012.

 

[infeXio]

I do remember a similar incident a couple of years ago at the Tour de France. After the end of a MTF, a rider (I forgot who it was) rode back down the mountain and collided with a spectator. If I recall correctly, the rider was injured and the spectator even went into a coma. The spectator had been from Luxembourg, that's why it was in the news here. It happened recently, in the last 5 years I would say. But I don't know what ever came of it

Must be the Sinkewitz incident in 2007-ish - I assume.

 

[the delgados]

A fantastic race marred by an unfortunate accident.
The peloton had just cleared a roundabout when Van Summeren seemed to take an opportunity to gain a few places and merge with riders on the opposite side. Obviously he had no idea a traffic island awaited riders after the roundabout.
Isn't that what race radios are for?

 

[jaylew]

How many great reactions have we been robbed off in all the races that didn't have the in care camera.

The nailbiting sprint last year at PR, MTN reaction to Ciolek pulling it off, or especially the pure shock in the Leopard Trek car in Lombardia 11

Yes; it would be awesome if we always had access to those.

They weren't the middle of the road, but on a traffic island which IMHO should be a fine place to stand. As you would expect the cyclists to go around it and not crash over it.

Maybe, but I certainly don't think you should have a child there. If you're an adult and aware of the risk, ok.

 

[Afrank]

Maybe he could not avoid it or saw it too late, that sort of thing happens all the time when you are riding at high speed in the peloton... usually it is not a problem and riders can just "bunny hop" it, but what they don't expect is people to stand there....

I did say it would probably be safer to stand on the side of the road then on a traffic island. But it's not a place you would normally expect to have a problem. And even if the people hadn't been standing there he wouldn't have been able to bunny hop it. You can see in the video there is the first elevated traffic island, and then a second one that even looked like there might be something coming off it. So he would have gone down regardless of people being there.

 

[movingtarget]

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

People now stand on traffic islands in almost every race. It's nothing new but very dangerous but people have also been hurt standing on the side of the road. Terrible situation for both rider and family. Too much traffic furniture is the problem.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The Steppers' cobbles train:

Looked very good for the large part, but collapsed at business end.

More pictures here: http://www.steephill.tv/2014/tour-of-flanders/photos/page-02/

 

[Christian]

Must be the Sinkewitz incident in 2007-ish - I assume.

Ah yes, that must be it, thank you. I did seem to remember that it had been a German rider, but couldn't remember which one.

Watching the final sprint again in slow motion from the overhead camera behind the riders really shows what a beast Cancellara was in that sprint!!

 

[Cimber]

What a great race this was! Only bad thing was to many crashes, especially the serious ones.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

It still is pretty easy to say who was stronger in each year imo.

Canc was stronger in 2010, 2011 and this year.

Boonen was stronger in 2012

It's impossible to known about 2013 as Boonen never really got going that season but it would have been great if he was at his 2012 level. If that were the case imo Canc would have won the Ronde and Boonen Roubaix.

What concerns me is that you are meant to moderate other people's posts. In fact thinking about it... Netserk was able to as well. But at least someone saw sense eventually.

 

[Trond Vidar]

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..

Kristoff told Norwegian media yesterday that he would have preferred the race to be about an hour longer, with a tongue on cheek. He does respond well to distance.

 

[rainman]

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

Agree, the family should not have been in such a precarious place. Quite often newbie spectators don't realise that the peloton can be moving at 60-70kph and need the entirety of the road, with riders often switching sides unpredictably. In my view one of the many outriders who preceed the race should have directed the family to safety at the side of the road.

 

[Lexman]

Agree, the family should not have been in such a precarious place. Quite often newbie spectators don't realise that the peloton can be moving at 60-70kph and need the entirety of the road, with riders often switching sides unpredictably. In my view one of the many outriders who preceed the race should have directed the family to safety at the side of the road.

The family in question were not newbies but people who follow cycling since some time...

Agreed though standing in the middle on the road with a peloton swarming all around at times is rather dangerous...