2014 Tour De France stage 1: Leeds › Harrogate (190.5km)

[M Sport]

At the same time how smart are many fans? I mean all one had to do was see the end of the race to realize it was his fault. Yet how many previously in thiis thread came to the conslusion that it was either not his fault, or indeed somebody else's?

Add journalists as well, including Paul Kimmage.

 

[Pricey_sky]

At the same time how smart are many fans? I mean all one had to do was see the end of the race to realize it was his fault. Yet how many previously in thiis thread came to the conslusion that it was either not his fault, or indeed somebody else's?

Its time to take a long hard look folks.

You could say the same about a vast range of subjects on this sport not just on Cav. Everyone has their own opinion on who their hero's and villains are, someone will always disagree with you. People can get out of the sport whatever they wish too, they do not need to take a long, hard look to do so. Nobody has the right to be so condescending to anyone else on here.

For what it's worth yes Cav was at fault, although its easy to argue that had the Europcar rider not squeezed Gerro from the other side (watch the above shot to see this best) the crash may not have happened either.

 

[auscyclefan94]

You could say the same about a vast range of subjects on this sport not just on Cav. Everyone has their own opinion on who their hero's and villains are, someone will always disagree with you. People can get out of the sport whatever they wish too, they do not need to take a long, hard look to do so. Nobody has the right, especially you to be so condescending to anyone else on here.

For what it's worth yes Cav was at fault, although its easy to argue that had the Europcar rider not squeezed Gerro from the other side (watch the above shot to see this best) the crash may not have happened either.

Cavendish's main hit at Gerrans was before the Europcar rider came through and rightfully so.

 

[MarkvW]

This. It makes me wonder how smart he is?

At the same time how smart are many fans? I mean all one had to do was see the end of the race to realize it was his fault. Yet how many previously in thiis thread came to the conslusion that it was either not his fault, or indeed somebody else's?

Its time to take a long hard look folks.

The whole fault analysis doesn't make a lot of sense to me. From what I've seen, when it comes to sprint finishes at the TdF, the unwritten rule is that pretty much anything goes as long as you don't purposely take another person out or very obviously hinder a person going for a likely win.

 

[rhubroma]

The whole fault analysis doesn't make a lot of sense to me. From what I've seen, when it comes to sprint finishes at the TdF, the unwritten rule is that pretty much anything goes as long as you don't purposely take another person out or very obviously hinder a person going for a likely win.

It doesn't matter whether or not it makes sense to you. It isn't whether or not you purposely took someone down, but whether or not your wreckless actions led to someone being taken down. Thus Cav was 100% at fault, end of story.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

This. It makes me wonder how smart he is?

At the same time how smart are many fans? I mean all one had to do was see the end of the race to realize it was his fault. Yet how many previously in thiis thread came to the conslusion that it was either not his fault, or indeed somebody else's?

Its time to take a long hard look folks.

Like I said earlier, this was a race incident during a bunch sprint. Somebody needed space and added risk to the equation. The result was a crash.

It will happen again and again. Next time somebody else will be involved.

I think the blame game is trivial.

 

[Hawkwood]

"oh hi Gerro, sorry I almost totally f***ed your entire tdf and could have caused you serious injury. No hard feelings eh mate?"

Hopefully Gerro rips Cav a new one.

Did you see the interview with Gerrans? He seemed surprisingly chilled, hoped Cav was okay, and said he'd have to look at the video to see who'd caused the crash.

 

[hughmoore]

Did you see the interview with Gerrans? He seemed surprisingly chilled, hoped Cav was okay, and said he'd have to look at the video to see who'd caused the crash.

That's because Gerro is a professional, not a ****!

Argy bargy in sprints is normal but Cav was ridiculous, there was plenty and it opened up on the bend, so was no need to head **** Gerro. Stupid move.


Hugh

 

[Lupi33]

surprised that Cav admitted it

social media would've ripped Gerro a new one otherwise

kudos to Cav for sparing him that burden

 

[Modiss]

Like I said earlier, this was a race incident during a bunch sprint. Somebody needed space and added risk to the equation. The result was a crash.

It will happen again and again. Next time somebody else will be involved.

I think the blame game is trivial.

Two riders bouncing off one another in a sprint is a race incident.

Leaning off the side of your bike repeatedly driving your head into the rider beside you forcing him off the line that he is obligated to ride under current sprint regs too the point where you cause a fall is an infringement.

If Cavendish had concentrated on the road in front of him there was plenty of room to muscle out. Head butts are the tool of talented bums who are unable to focus under pressure.

Head butts are a serious infringement or risk as you have put it.

If you take that risk or roll that dice you should expect to pay the price. Cavendish should be disqualified.

 

[rhubroma]

Like I said earlier, this was a race incident during a bunch sprint. Somebody needed space and added risk to the equation. The result was a crash.

It will happen again and again. Next time somebody else will be involved.

I think the blame game is trivial.

Dude "somebody needed space" is not a licence to head butting and taking another rider down. Under no circumstances.

You don't have a point, also because Cav himself admitted he was at fault. Why are you trying to justify unacceptable riding? Contact happens, yes, but the Briton went beyond what can be classified as circumstantial "it comes with the turf" happenstance, into wreckless provocation.

 

[zigmeister]

Like I said earlier, this was a race incident during a bunch sprint. Somebody needed space and added risk to the equation. The result was a crash.

It will happen again and again. Next time somebody else will be involved.

I think the blame game is trivial.

Can't you read what Cav has said multiple times??? He said it was his fault for the accident. He apologized to Simon.

Not the first time Cav has caused a crash. Finally man-ed up took responsibility for his own actions for a change.

 

[Krebs cycle]

Velo Files: An Apology Enough?

"Cavendish's recklessness is reminiscent of the damage he caused to Heinrich Haussler four years ago, on Stage 4 of the Tour of Switzerland."

http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/anthony-tan/blog/129122/velo-files-an-apology-enough

 

[MarkvW]

It doesn't matter whether or not it makes sense to you. It isn't whether or not you purposely took someone down, but whether or not your wreckless actions led to someone being taken down. Thus Cav was 100% at fault, end of story.

Will Cav be sanctioned for his behavior? If yes, then you might be right. If no, then you're just presenting your own moral values as moral absolutes.

 

[rhubroma]

Will Cav be sanctioned for his behavior? If yes, then you might be right. If no, then you're just presenting your own moral values as moral absolutes.

You are being specious and an idiot with it. In England, on home turf, with millions of fans grabing on to this Tour, do you really think he'd have been sanctioned? He's out on his own right anyway. That's rich man!

PS. Moi moral absolutes? If you think head butting to clear the passage is cool, then so be it. I don't agree, if that makes me a moralist then so be it.

 

[SeriousSam]

Will Cav be sanctioned for his behavior? If yes, then you might be right. If no, then you're just presenting your own moral values as moral absolutes.

This is exactly backwards. You'd want the cycling authorities to do the right thing, but it isn't the right thing to do because the cycling authorities do it.

If you wanted to convince someone that Cavendish isn't the primary culprit, would "he wasn't sanctioned" be the most compelling argument you could muster?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Can't you read what Cav has said multiple times??? He said it was his fault for the accident. He apologized to Simon.

Not the first time Cav has caused a crash. Finally man-ed up took responsibility for his own actions for a change.

You clearly don't understand what I'm talking about.

 

[Sum_of_Marc]

Some photos from Ilkley, early in the stage (click to zoom)

 

[Sum_of_Marc]

And some photos 1.5km from the line in Harrogate




https://www.flickr.com/photos/sumofmarc/sets/72157645114287067/

Yorkshire very busy all weekend, but managed to get some good spots to watch the race still.

 

[MarkvW]

This is exactly backwards. You'd want the cycling authorities to do the right thing, but it isn't the right thing to do because the cycling authorities do it.

If you wanted to convince someone that Cavendish isn't the primary culprit, would "he wasn't sanctioned" be the most compelling argument you could muster?

It's pro cycling, not tiddlywinks.

 

[oncehadhair]

When things are going well, Cavendish is a good guy. And often, away from racing, he's a really great guy (just ask Jonny Bellis).

But when the race head is on, and after things haven't gone to plan, the blinkers come on and he behaves like a ***.

Today he actually accepted the blame for an accident. This is a big surprise as historically his reaction to not winning has been to find someone to apportion blame to.

Plus one. He's been at fault before and not apologised.