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Jayco signed the wrong sprinter, though to be fair I could probably bring a few home myself with that cracked leadout train :grimacing:

Tomorrow the boy Onley will get his first WT win, though I got Derek Gee at 400/1 before the race after looking at strava and in many ways Canada has always been our favourite son.

I make too many dreadful and lofty predictions not to enjoy this one.

The boy was going to be good after he gave VIngegaard trouble in the Cro race.

They don't look to be slowing down this year either, 8 people in that front group and the top 3 were faster than Richard.
 
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In almost every race, the finish line we see is not *actually* the finish line, it's usually shortly thereafter. Which is why photos like the one above can be deceiving.

That's unacceptable.

Fine if it's needed to order placings down through the peloton but if there is definite proof that it's mistaken when splitting 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 3rd or 3rd or 4th, it should not be the photofinish that has the final word.

I realise that would open up a can of worms.

Well, then there should be stricter demands of the organisers to locate the photofinish so that it does snap its photos exactly at the beginning of the black line (or very, very close to). Here it must be decimetres off...
 
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That's unacceptable.

Fine if it's needed to order placings down through the peloton but if there is definite proof that it's mistaken when splitting 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 3rd or 3rd or 4th, it should not be the photofinish that has the final word.

I realise that would open up a can of worms.

Well, then there should be stricter demands of the organisers to locate the photofinish so that it does snap its photos exactly at the beginning of the black line (or very, very close to). Here it must be decimetres off...
Remember Wout and Pidcock in the Gold Race? What we saw is that Pidcock was the one to first cross the black line, but Wout otoh was the one to first cross the 'actual' finish line where the photo finish camera is setup, and thus was declared the winner.
 
Remember Wout and Pidcock in the Gold Race? What we saw is that Pidcock was the one to first cross the black line, but Wout otoh was the one to first cross the 'actual' finish line where the photo finish camera is setup, and thus was declared the winner.

Or more recent, Ewan vs. Thijssen in Monsére. Photo's from multiple angles showed Ewan touching the finish line first, but on the (super blurry) photofinish it looked like Thijssen came in first. And as the rules say, the finish is where the finish photo is set up. Which is obviously very problematic when it isn't set up on the finish line.
 
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Yes, that was unacceptable too.
But the result was (very likely) correct. As a mathematician, you should have no problem figuring that one out, looking at the finish photo and doing some basic calculations.

But the problem is indeed that riders and fans have no idea where the line is. This comes from the technical limitations of the technology that is used. Unlike a regular picture, a finish photo is more like a scan than a photo. Remember those old handscanners from back in 1991? (A normal scanner works the same, but this is easier to visualise) It scanned the image as you pulled the scanner over it. A finish photo works in the same way, except here the scanner is fixed and it scans as people cross it. But in order to get a clear image, the background has to be white, so the idiots set it up on one of the wide white stripes before or after (they even get to chose) the black finish line. The solution is simple, make the actual finish line white, with two somewhat thicker black borders and thén two wide white stripes. That way the finish photo can be taken on the actual line. Possibly it will need to be a little bit thicker than the black one they use now, but considering the black one they use now doesn't count anyway...
 
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But the result was (very likely) correct. As a mathematician, you should have no problem figuring that one out, looking at the finish photo and doing some basic calculations.

But the problem is indeed that riders and fans have no idea where the line is. This comes from the technical limitations of the technology that is used. Unlike a regular picture, a finish photo is more like a scan than a photo. Remember those old handscanners from back in 1991? (A normal scanner works the same, but this is easier to visualise) It scanned the image as you pulled the scanner over it. A finish photo works in the same way, except here the scanner is fixed and it scans as people cross it. But in order to get a clear image, the background has to be white, so the idiots set it up on one of the wide white stripes before or after (they even get to chose) the black finish line. The solution is simple, make the actual finish line white, with two somewhat thicker black borders and thén two wide white stripes. That way the finish photo can be taken on the actual line. Possibly it will need to be a little bit thicker than the black one they use now, but considering the black one they use now doesn't count anyway...

Yeah, true, I meant to add that part but forgot it.

The problem with the TDU situation is that there is irrefutable evidence (especially thanks to the shadows) that shows the photofinish was not correct. The Amstel one was more murky.
 
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Yeah, true, I meant to add that part but forgot it.

The problem with the TDU situation is that there is irrefutable evidence (especially thanks to the shadows) that shows the photofinish was not correct. The Amstel one was more murky.
Their mindset is still in the 1970s. These are all issues that could be easily avoided, even with minor adjustments. Even if they don't want to change the lines as i suggested, they could just add a laser to draw the "actual" finish on the white stripes so that at least the riders know what to focus on.
 
Please put me at ease, and tell me his leg has been put back on ok?
For us to know if the reattachment went well he will not go off the back on such a tiny hill, obvious that both legs and brain were connected and fully functioning days before when he attacked the field, got a gap and was getting it done before being caught. Meanwhile, go to Del Toro interview were he says that the pack was just not enough, so he dropped back to do some additional interval work.. Looks as if those watts that looked to be extra, were actually needed up Willunga!!!an interview which everyone will regret. UAE director, now knowing to instruct Isaac not to do any micro sprints during the race, sure he assumed he didn't have to tell him.
I hope both Simmons, Del Toro and Alaphilppe have great days!!

If I had a wish granted today it would be for a pimple faced Australian National team rider to win because of what their squad showed that many pro teams have not..
 
Meanwhile, go to Del Toro interview were he says that the pack was just not enough, so he dropped back to do some additional interval work.. Looks as if those watts that looked to be extra, were actually needed up Willunga!!!an interview which everyone will regret. UAE director, now knowing to instruct Isaac not to do any micro sprints during the race, sure he assumed he didn't have to tell him.
Or maybe he's an intelligent young man that knows how to use sarcasm when asked a question about why he was at the back. 🙄
 
Or maybe he's an intelligent young man that knows how to use sarcasm when asked a question about why he was at the back. 🙄
Intelligent for sure* I didn't hear or see the interview, and if it was in Spanish, Italian or English. Makes a difference, and he might have been saying he had stiffness or cramps and it came off differently.
Because I have been in long-term relationships with women, I can speak first hand about being misquoted!!! And what you think you said and what others think you said being different.. If you know what I mean!!
 
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