I dont want to rehash the whole chaingate incident from the Tour but the way some people reacted is hilarious, Contador is like the devil incarnate according to some.Personally, I feel he should have rode tempr for a bit but I aint going to crucify the guy either. Whilst there are unwritten rules in cycling, they are broken more often than some people think or realise. I want people to list incidents when the unwritten rules have been broken.
These include, taking advantage of a mechanical, crash, pee-stop etc.
Attacking your team leader or chasing down a team-mate.
Sitting on and then outsprinting breakaway colleagues when you are not protecting a team-mate.
Attacking in the feed zone, unlit tunnel when everyone has agreed to go slow etc.
I will kick of with some, 87 was a vintage year for breaking unwritten rules, Kelly and his team pushing the pace when race leader Roche punctured in Paris-Nice.
Roche attacking his team-mate/leader Roberto Visentini in the 87 Giro.
Systeme-U team of Fignon/Mottet attacking in the feed zone to isolate MJ Jean-Francois Bernard after he had punctured, Tour 87. Roche also joined in the attacks so we can see why Roche backed what Cotador done.
This year, Tour of Oman, manys teams v SKY when race leader Boasson Hagen took a pee stop, this was revenge fpr SKY attacking in feed zone apparently.
Luc LeBlanc attacking and catching his team-mate Gerard Rue at the 92 French nationals, Rue was on his way to a solo victory but LeBlanc won.
Oscar Sevilla v Aitor Gonzalez at a Vuelta from the early 00s when Gonzalez didnt wait on his Kelme leader.
Many Spaniards ganging up against Robert Millar in the 85 Vuelta to ensure a Spaniard Delgado won.
The peloton with US Postal to the fore pushing on when race favourite Alex Zulle crashed on the Passage du Gois in 99, Zulle lost 6 minutes.
Lance v Simeoni, the race leader chasing down a nobody on an insignificant stage for GC riders and telling the breakaway riders he would only drop back if Simeoni did too, he then famopusly gave Simeoni the a zip the lips signal.
Jacky Durand, Tour of Flanders 92, Durand seen breakaway companion Tommy Wegmuller fiddling with his gears on the Bosberg climb, Durand attacked and won.
Tour 1990, Greg LeMond has a mechanical on a mountain stage, race leader Chiappucci attacks. LeMond is livid and catches up and leaves El Diablo behind.
Tour, early 00s, Richard Virenque and Roberto Heras are all set to contest a finish of a mountain stage but Heras crashes in final KM, Virenque doesnt wait and celebrates like he won on his own merits
Tour 88, breakaway riders Robert Millar and Philipe Bouvatier are sent the wrong way near the finish, Massimo Ghirotto isnt and he doent wait for the other guys to catch up and takes the victory.
Nico Mattan slipstreaming a motorcycle and passing Juan Antonio Flecha to win Het Volk a few years back.
Phew, thats a lot already and I have just skimmed a few. Others....
These include, taking advantage of a mechanical, crash, pee-stop etc.
Attacking your team leader or chasing down a team-mate.
Sitting on and then outsprinting breakaway colleagues when you are not protecting a team-mate.
Attacking in the feed zone, unlit tunnel when everyone has agreed to go slow etc.
I will kick of with some, 87 was a vintage year for breaking unwritten rules, Kelly and his team pushing the pace when race leader Roche punctured in Paris-Nice.
Roche attacking his team-mate/leader Roberto Visentini in the 87 Giro.
Systeme-U team of Fignon/Mottet attacking in the feed zone to isolate MJ Jean-Francois Bernard after he had punctured, Tour 87. Roche also joined in the attacks so we can see why Roche backed what Cotador done.
This year, Tour of Oman, manys teams v SKY when race leader Boasson Hagen took a pee stop, this was revenge fpr SKY attacking in feed zone apparently.
Luc LeBlanc attacking and catching his team-mate Gerard Rue at the 92 French nationals, Rue was on his way to a solo victory but LeBlanc won.
Oscar Sevilla v Aitor Gonzalez at a Vuelta from the early 00s when Gonzalez didnt wait on his Kelme leader.
Many Spaniards ganging up against Robert Millar in the 85 Vuelta to ensure a Spaniard Delgado won.
The peloton with US Postal to the fore pushing on when race favourite Alex Zulle crashed on the Passage du Gois in 99, Zulle lost 6 minutes.
Lance v Simeoni, the race leader chasing down a nobody on an insignificant stage for GC riders and telling the breakaway riders he would only drop back if Simeoni did too, he then famopusly gave Simeoni the a zip the lips signal.
Jacky Durand, Tour of Flanders 92, Durand seen breakaway companion Tommy Wegmuller fiddling with his gears on the Bosberg climb, Durand attacked and won.
Tour 1990, Greg LeMond has a mechanical on a mountain stage, race leader Chiappucci attacks. LeMond is livid and catches up and leaves El Diablo behind.
Tour, early 00s, Richard Virenque and Roberto Heras are all set to contest a finish of a mountain stage but Heras crashes in final KM, Virenque doesnt wait and celebrates like he won on his own merits
Tour 88, breakaway riders Robert Millar and Philipe Bouvatier are sent the wrong way near the finish, Massimo Ghirotto isnt and he doent wait for the other guys to catch up and takes the victory.
Nico Mattan slipstreaming a motorcycle and passing Juan Antonio Flecha to win Het Volk a few years back.
Phew, thats a lot already and I have just skimmed a few. Others....