Awesome CAS-Fighting-Machine Thread

[theyoungest]

Cycling is such an insane sport. People finishing races with severed fingers, broken hips, broken ribs, pierced lungs, broken collar bones... it's a bit sad really.

 

[Captain Sensible]

He is having surgery, transplanting skin from the hand to the fingers. They don't know yet whether he is can start tomorrow!

It is things like this ,how he even finished the stage never mind that he wants to get back on his bike to finish the Tour that makes me have respect for all racers.I just hope that he has no long term damage .

 

[Cimber]

It is unsecure if he will start today. He wants to but the race doctors need to check him first, and they might not allow him to start.

 

[bjaelkesex]

it's a bit sad really.

In what way exactly? They have the option to abandon. If anything, it shows character and inspires other (future) cyclists. I'm always impressed when I learn that a certain rider has finished a stage with a serious injury.

 

[Cimber]

In what way exactly? They have the option to abandon. If anything, it shows character and inspires other (future) cyclists. I'm always impressed when I learn that a certain rider has finished a stage with a serious injury.

Yes it shows huge character and dedication, but to be honest sometimes the race doctors need to make the decision for the riders. Just take Horner last year for example.

 

[JPM London]

Yes it shows huge character and dedication, but to be honest sometimes the race doctors need to make the decision for the riders. Just take Horner last year for example.

Horner last year should've been pulled - most definitely! And that should have been by the race doctor - if he doesn't even know who he is and where there's no doubt really.

In a case like this it's more difficult. Even if CAS says finishing the stage yesterday was insane (which I believe he's been quoted as saying?) I think he'll be happy to have kept himself in the race and - hopefully - reaching Paris with a top 20 on the GC. Having pulled out - or having been pulled out - he'd always have the "what if?" lurking at the back of his mind.

Personally I loved it when Tyler sacrificed a couple of teeth riding with his broken collarbone, I loved how Cadel fought through a stage with a broken arm because he was wearing yellow and couldn't even contemplate stopping and I loved how CAS finished the stage.

In the end it's a dangerous sport and there'll always be the tough decision as to where we draw the line. If we wanted to make it a safe sport they'd all be riding Tacx with mattresses both sides of the bike in case they fell off...

 

[Cimber]

He has been given the green light by the race doctors but he is in a lot of pain and might have to quit during the stage, Riis says:

http://translate.google.com/transla...trabladet.dk/sport/cykling/article1794942.ece

 

[bjaelkesex]

Yes it shows huge character and dedication, but to be honest sometimes the race doctors need to make the decision for the riders. Just take Horner last year for example.

Horner should've been pulled out by the doctor or team manager. I agree with you in that case. Those injures are - thankfully - not the most common kind. I was refereeing to the more physical/visible injures in theyoungest's post.

 

[Cimber]

Horner should've been pulled out by the doctor or team manager. I agree with you in that case. Those injures are - thankfully - not the most common kind. I was refereeing to the more physical/visible injures in theyoungest's post.

I agree. Just saying that the race doctors need to pull the plug if the rider is in the danger permanent injuries cos he keeps riding (in this case - If we imagine CAS ending up with some permenant injury in his fingers which could have been avoided if he had been treated immidiately. Not saying that is the case - it was just a thought example)

 

[RedheadDane]

Horner last year should've been pulled - most definitely! And that should have been by the race doctor - if he doesn't even know who he is and where there's no doubt really.

In a case like this it's more difficult. Even if CAS says finishing the stage yesterday was insane (which I believe he's been quoted as saying?) I think he'll be happy to have kept himself in the race and - hopefully - reaching Paris with a top 20 on the GC. Having pulled out - or having been pulled out - he'd always have the "what if?" lurking at the back of his mind.

Personally I loved it when Tyler sacrificed a couple of teeth riding with his broken collarbone, I loved how Cadel fought through a stage with a broken arm because he was wearing yellow and couldn't even contemplate stopping and I loved how CAS finished the stage.

In the end it's a dangerous sport and there'll always be the tough decision as to where we draw the line. If we wanted to make it a safe sport they'd all be riding Tacx with mattresses both sides of the bike in case they fell off...

+1.000

There are instances of What a fighter! Amazing he continued! Examples include but aren't limitted to:
The recent Chris Anker example.
Hoogerland last year.
Anybody who continues with broken limbs.
Summie after the Metz Massacre

However, there are also instances of Holy ****! He should've been pulled instantly!
The two biggest examples being:
Horner last year.
Poels this year.


Anyway. Back to The Ox! In typical Chris Anker style he's claimed that he thinks this calls for a raise in his wages. You don't say!

And he just got green light to start today! According to Riis, if he makes it through the first 30 KM everything should be fine.

 

[Grayguard]

He did well today; I hope he'll make it all the way - especially considering what he is sacrificing to do just that.

 

[RedheadDane]

He's got the Super Fighter Prize!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Honestly, and I'm a Dane, I don't think he should have been awarded the super combatif award. Voeckler, at least, deserved the prize more. I guess it's all politics though.

 

[jyhjyh]

Voeckler got the Polka-dot Jersey for his efforts.
CAS got nothing, I think that's the reason.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Voeckler got the Polka-dot Jersey for his efforts.
CAS got nothing, I think that's the reason.

It probably is, but if that's the reasoning, Kessiakoff deserved it even more. It shouldn't be the deciding factor anyway.

 

[Cimber]

Think stage 11 is a key reason. He kept getting dropped and kept coming back all day long.

 

[Forunculo]

I supported Morkov but CAS is nice too

 

[jyhjyh]

The nominated riders were:
Voeckler, Mørkøv, LL Sanchez and CAS.

Chris Anker Sørensen has been chosen because of his presence in many outbreaks, and that he has fought his way through with a bad injury,
said race director Jean-Francois Pescheux.


Brief translation from:
http://ekstrabladet.dk/sport/cykling/article1795580.ece

 

[Warhawk]

Horner last year should've been pulled - most definitely! And that should have been by the race doctor - if he doesn't even know who he is and where there's no doubt really.

In a case like this it's more difficult. Even if CAS says finishing the stage yesterday was insane (which I believe he's been quoted as saying?) I think he'll be happy to have kept himself in the race and - hopefully - reaching Paris with a top 20 on the GC. Having pulled out - or having been pulled out - he'd always have the "what if?" lurking at the back of his mind.

Personally I loved it when Tyler sacrificed a couple of teeth riding with his broken collarbone, I loved how Cadel fought through a stage with a broken arm because he was wearing yellow and couldn't even contemplate stopping and I loved how CAS finished the stage.

In the end it's a dangerous sport and there'll always be the tough decision as to where we draw the line. If we wanted to make it a safe sport they'd all be riding Tacx with mattresses both sides of the bike in case they fell off...

True. The big difference here is that while CAS's injury looked plenty bad, and while it could cause some permanent damage due to his continuing, it was of a type where CAS was able to make an informed and competent decision to continue. Contrast that where someone has suffered head trauma, or serious internal injuries and may be in shock, where the decision might have to be taken out of their hands.

 

[JPM London]

It probably is, but if that's the reasoning, Kessiakoff deserved it even more. It shouldn't be the deciding factor anyway.

If you consider the prize is there so they can award something to a rider who deserves recognition but hasn't taken honours in another way - like a stage or jersey - then it most definitely should be a deciding factor...

 

[Hugo Koblet]

If you consider the prize is there so they can award something to a rider who deserves recognition but hasn't taken honours in another way - like a stage or jersey - then it most definitely should be a deciding factor...

Well, then they should call it Prix de la consolation and not Prix de la combativité.

In any case I'm glad for Chris Anker. He indeed is a fighter - I just think that Voeckler deserved the prize more.

 

[will10]

Well, then they should call it Prix de la consolation and not Prix de la combativité.

In any case I'm glad for Chris Anker. He indeed is a fighter - I just think that Voeckler deserved the prize more.

After two stage wins and the KoM, the ASO would've taken some stick if they'd given Voeckler the Combativity too. Sorensen is a worthy winner IMO. Even though he wasn't quite good enough to get a stage, or to take the KoM, he kept plugging away stage after stage in the break, and of course with his injury it was quite staggering for hin to finish that stage, let alone the Tour. Think of all the days where he couldn't follow the best in the break, and murdered himself to try to stay in contact. The combativity prize is more than just picking the right breaks, it's how you ride, and I think Sorensen is a just choice.

 

[Warhawk]

Aye, should go to the guy who leaves it all out on the course.

And since the roads in the Pyrenees are apparently now paved with the blood of Chris Anker Sorensen, I think he's an appropriate choice.

 

[Magnus]

It probably is, but if that's the reasoning, Kessiakoff deserved it even more. It shouldn't be the deciding factor anyway.

To be fair, CAS was in the break on 5 stages (7, 8, 11, 16, 17).

 

[doperhopper]

they should invent a special "Bloody Mary" jersey (most suffering guy who makes it to Paris) - this year obviously for CAS, last year's winner would be Johny "barbedwire" Hoogerland, etc. - every year there's someone who makes it with something broken or at least badly damaged