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

[Libertine Seguros]

Coquard said that he touched handlebar's with Gerrans "and then people were down".

Coquard wouldn't have been able to see Cavendish. Gerrans was between the two of them. From his vantage point, he's riding, then Gerrans' handlebars hit his...

 

[Lupi33]

seems to always be a stupid avoidable and controversial crash in the first few stages of GTs lately

everyone is anxious in the first week

 

[Arnout]

This is what happened.

OPQS went too early and Cav was swallowed by a bunch of riders and when he realized he was boxed in he tried to force his way out and did head Bu*t Gerrans, who didn't, and correctly so (Cav needs to learn to be a bit humble), gave in and in the end they went down.

Sad to see. Was hoping to see a primed Cavendish.

Gerrans didn't, but he also couldn't because Coquard was there.

 

[orangerider]

This was Cav's fault all the way. In fact, he should also get fined for being so wreckless.

Agreed. Greipel and some others who were worthy of contention lost their position because of this act of negligence caught on camera.

 

[veji11]

Beyond today's stage, if Cav is out it changes the whole complexion of the Tour with OPQS not playing the sprints anymore and being much more aggressive with guys like Tony Martin going for stage wins like Cancellara tried it today. One team less who will try to control breakaways as well. Pressure will be all on Lotto, Giant and to a lesser extent Cannondale

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Belgium ftw,argentina is not good enough

pretty harsh,but you are right.

Perhaps.

Stage 1 is finished, let it go and we can resume tomorrow.

BTW, ARG just scored......suck it Belgium....long and hard!

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Caused by an unexpected strength, and an unexpected weakness.

The Omega train disappeared when Cancellara took the race out of mould: if they had been there, Cav wouldn't have been looking to find a way past someone like Gerrans.

Cocquard by no means has the body type of a Greipel/Kittel/Degenkolb, but when Cavendish tried to push Gerrans to the left, the Aussie bounced straight off Coquard.

 

[Walkman]

Gerrans didn't, but he also couldn't because Coquard was there.

I know, I know. Gerrans did nothing wrong.

Cav caused the crash and none else.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Arg 1.

Belg 0.

 

[webvan]

Wow, CAV, biggest fail of the year...I guess he had too much riding on this finish (cried on the phone to Lefévère in the Spring, sent him a picture of himself barfing in the toilets to show he was really sick, etc...), couldn't control himself, well at least he didn't cause any injury to others.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Cav of to hospital, gutted for him but that's bike racing!

Congrats to Kittel, the guy is incredible!

 

[rhubroma]

Cannondale and Lotto should have continued to race after the last climb. Would have made the finale even better.

Anyway congrats to Kittel with the win.

Too bad about Cav, but this is bunch sprinting.

Nobody did anything wrong, it was just a race incident.

The crowds are fantastic. Great roads, stunning landscape.

Take a look a the replay again. Cav tried to force a rider ahead of him out of the way to pass, pressing his head on the other's back. Not cool.

If then he goes down on his own, he had it coming to him. If, on the other hand, he causes his victim to crash too (and others), then he needs to be sanctioned.

Sure physical contact happens, but you are under no circumstances not allowed to cause a crash. He did, thus he is at fault.

 

[MatParker117]

Cav tried to power past Gerro, Gerro bounced off Coquard and back into Cav, both go down. If Coquard is not there I doubt there is a crash.

 

[Arnout]

Arg 1.

Belg 0.

Don't do spoilers of other sports please. I doubt people that are not watching yet will record it or something, but you never know. There is a WC thread in the general board

 

[deValtos]

Take a look a the replay again. Cav tried to force a rider ahead of him out of the way to pass, pressing his head on the other's back. Not cool.

If then he goes down on his own, he had it coming to him. If, on the other hand, he causes his victim to crash too (and others), then he needs to be sanctioned.

Sure physical contact happens, but you are not allowed to cause a crash. He did, thus he is at fault.

Where's the replay ?

 

[Arnout]

Where's the replay ?

There will be one on Steephill.tv by now.

 

[JRanton]

Arg 1.

Belg 0.

Don't be a ****.

 

[Bushman]

Wait, what? Cav does the pushing but it's Gerro's fault for not being one of the best bike-handlers in the world?

Where did I say that it was Gerrans' fault? I think it was mostly Cav's fault, however I still dont think that the crash would have occurred had there been a sprinter instead of Gerrans.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

Don't do spoilers of other sports please. I doubt people that are not watching yet will record it or something, but you never know. There is a WC thread in the general board

Yeah, good call.

Sorry - will cease the commentary.

 

[Walkman]

Cav of to hospital, gutted for him but that's bike racing!

That's not bike racing. You don't head bu*t people in sprints. Mark Renshaw was kicked out of the Tour for doing this, and rightly so. It's dangerous.

Cavendish may have ended Gerrans Tour right there. That would be a shame!

 

[therealtimshady]

Don't know if this has been mentioned but I've Just looked at the overall results and it's saying talansky has lost 4 mins 16 - must be a mistake

 

[rhubroma]

Where's the replay ?

I saw it like 5 times under a magnified image on the RAI3 coverage. It was absolutely clear that he was at fault.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

 

[leftover pie]

Arg 1.

Belg 0.

it's not a good day for the belgies

 

[kingjr]

I still dont think that the crash would have occurred had there been a sprinter instead of Gerrans.

Why not? 10c