Accidents and age

[Merckx index]

I guess what happened to Froome could have happened to anyone, but was it made more likely by his age? Slower reflexes, lapses in concentration?

One of the more remarkable achievements of LA, doping aside, is that for 7 straight years he never had a significant crash. Then he comes out of retirement, and starts falling all over the place. A broken collarbone I think in early 2009. A bad crash in the 2010 Tour.

The counter argument, I guess, is that with age comes experience and caution.

 

[Koronin]

Froome has a history of crashing just not with significant injuries. As for age it likely has more to do with the individual rider than it does anything else as there are many domestiques that race into their later 30's and don't necessarily have a history of more crashes or more serious injuries with crashes. Then you have other riders (Estaban Chaves comes to mind and Egan Bernal is headed in this direction) who are young and are crash and injury prone.

 

[Parker]

Froome is 34 not 65. I thought Valverde was finished after his 2017 crash (age 37 at the time). But here he is as World Champion

 

[perico]

Re:

Froome is 34 not 65. I thought Valverde was finished after his 2017 crash (age 37 at the time). But here he is as World Champion

Valverde came back strong, but as a glorified one day racer. His GC days are effectively over. Can't really say how it will affect Froome, whose a pure GT rider.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Interesting theory. Contador certainly appeared to be a lot more crash prone in the second half of his career.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Froome is 34 not 65. I thought Valverde was finished after his 2017 crash (age 37 at the time). But here he is as World Champion

Valverde came back strong, but as a glorified one day racer. His GC days are effectively over. Can't really say how it will affect Froome, whose a pure GT rider.

Well Valverde did win a bunch of 1 week races last year as well and finished 5th in la Vuelta which was the only GT he really went after. This year, well he's flat out said that having the rainbow jersey has made him feel more relaxed and feel like he's already won every race he's started and that the hunger just isn't as strong. So, take that for what you want.

 

[jmdirt]

IMO, no. I think that if you collect crash data among pro racers, there will be no statistical difference based on age.

As you said, other discussions aside, LA's run of no crashes, illness, bike issues was amazing.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Always was aware of Lance's streak. Looking at contenders crashing and DNF in or before the TDF. It is indeed something exceptional. Entering clinic territory, but maybe there are substances helping with reflexes, concentration... as well?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

bump thread
bump thomas tank

 

[RedheadDane]

I dunno… in Froome's case I don't think many people would have had time to react.

 

[Koronin]

Let's add in this discussion that both Phinney and Stetina had major injuries from crashes in which they've never reached the level they were previously to those injuries and they were younger.