Itzulia Basque Country 2024, April 1-6

[Stasat]

I was looking for the exact place. You have a marker?

Accoring to the post above it's tree roots. Google maps is no use, the images are 15 years old

 

[red_flanders]

I'm pretty sure there was no contact.

Remco was braking hard on his rear wheel while going over those tree roots, trying to make the curve this way. You can see his rear wheel moving erroneously. The Trek rider tried, at the same time, to round the curve without braking too much, resulting in his front wheel sliding out.

What Mihai is suggesting is impossible, imo.

Judging by the head-on camera, in every frame there is enough space between Remco and any rider around him at any time before the Lidl Trek rider crash, to say something like that.

I think y'all are right. After my first watch I thought someone hit his rear wheel which straightened him up...but on repeat watches I don't see contact.

The bunny-hop over the ditch was impressive! If he'd have landed it even more so...

 

[AnotherArmChair]

why didn't the peloton race ?

 

[Keldergoat]

The explanation of Mikel Bizkarra on Twitter is interesting. He refers to the roots of the trees causing minor bumps on the road. If we're going to exclude all roads that contain these 'obstacles', I wish the organizers of any road race in contental Europe good luck in finding a route that is secure enough to have a peloton racing over it.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Now that it seems like everyone has made it out of there alive, I would also like to point out that the situation is not comparable to Mäder's fatal accident at Suisse last year.

- At Suisse, it seems highly unlikely that the crash was caused by unnecessary risks given how far back Mäder/Sheffield were. Here, the peloton entered the curve at what I would say was an irresponsible pace.
- At Suisse, the road surface was in excellent condition. Here, it clearly wasn't. Error number one by the organisers of Itzulia that doesn't apply to Suisse.
- At Suisse, any rider could have seen that missing the curve would mean falling down the mountain, whereas the hazards in this curve were not visible at all for the riders. Obstacles invisible to the riders, but visible to the organiser should be given additional attention. Error number two by the organisers of Itzulia that doesn't apply to Suisse.
- At Suisse, the concrete structure that ended up killing Mäder was ~100 metres away from the road, and therefore almost impossible for the organisers to be conscious of. Here, the ditch and boulders were right next to the road. Error number three by the organisers of Itzulia that doesn't apply to Suisse.
- At Suisse, the descent in question had been used over and over in the exact same position relative to the finish line without major incident, whereas I can't find the last time (if there is any) they went through the upper part (where they crashed) of this descent.

For these reasons, nobody was to blame for Mäder's death, whereas (the severity of) this crash was probably preventable on multiple counts. Thank f*ck it seems the consequences of these errors are not quite so severe.

Now, was the descent inherently too much? No, but this curve needed more attention than it got for the risk levels to be adequate.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

why didn't the peloton race ?

Because they're humans and not robots.

 

[saunaking]

crash in La Vuelta 2 years ago, just chilling at the back of the peloton and some fan tackles another rider

what the ***? what is this about?
fan tackles a rider???
seems like something i would remember hearing about

 

[Tim Cahill]

Meintjes far too classy

 

[noob]

Because they're humans and not robots.

And the breakaway riders didn't have to watch the filming so it makes perfect sense they'll ride for it.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Because they're humans and not robots.

well they have raced after worse crashes ...I think of the 2012 Tour

So by your logic the breakaway are robots ?

 

[IndurainsTdF1994]

did roglic exit the race? any announcement?

 

[Samamba]

what the ***? what is this about?
fan tackles a rider???
seems like something i would remember hearing about

Well obviously not on purpose lmao, It was Omi & Opi style (but smaller) and peloton wasn't going fast so the damage wasn't that big, apart from Cras his hand (or wrist or elbow don't remember exactly what it was).

 

[ppanther92]

did roglic exit the race? any announcement?

He did according to German Eurosport, but looked at least somehow fine in the car.

 

[Lexman]

did roglic exit the race? any announcement?

he's seen in the car of his team

 

[Extinction]

did roglic exit the race? any announcement?

He did, got in the team car smiled at the camera and was off.

 

[MotorRouleur]

Look at the slow-motion replay and look at the wheels of the 2nd Soudal Quick-Step rider, behind Remco. Looks like a depression in the pavement, hard to see, as it does not have definite edges or discolouring. Now look at the right knee of he and Remco.

 

[AI_Trek]

did roglic exit the race? any announcement?

He drove off in the team car, but if it's neutralized he may be able to come back tomorrow if he's okay

 

[Froome]

Not sure you can call it 'no unnecessary risk' when you miss a corner in a high speed decent.

But this crash is mostly down to riders racing like maniacs in a location where they really shouldn't have.

Exactly this.

I can't understand why they raced like a maniacs in the descent after doing the climb in a slow pace.

It would be more safe going in a fast pace in the climb, for doing a more safe descent with a restrit group.

 

[jaylew]

I'm guessing and hoping this won't affect Remco's or Primoz' TdF prep too much but it looks like we may have lost them for Flèche and Liège which is a real shame.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

well they have raced after worse crashes ...I think of the 2012 Tour

So by your logic the breakaway are robots ?

No, but they weren't involved in nor witnessed the crash. There might of course also be tactical reasons for not wanting a full gas restart after a long break.

 

[benzwire]

why didn't the peloton race ?

I believe the race was neutralized for the peloton and the breakaway was allowed to race amongst themselves for the stage win only. No time differences will be given. There will be a stage winner only. No race changes. Very stage, but that's what the race directors decided to do.

 

[Unchained]

Kirby actually made a good point in recognizing that the ambulances were still on site and not racing down the road to get someone to the hospital ASAP

In the US and Canada, when you have a rolling enclosure, you need so many police and ambulance support depending on the number of riders, here you have all the ambulances filled with broken and injured riders and because it's uphill, race officials decide to continue w way, way fewer emergency medical services..

Also Karel the BH rider was getting shelled coming up the climb, race went neutral, he slurps a bunch of gels and sugar bomb bottles and now he is racing for the podium!!! Go figure!!!

 

[Tim Cahill]

If Evenepoel stuck that landing and rode through the forest it would've been sick, didn't think he had it in him, almost had it, trees got in the way sadly

 

[AnotherArmChair]

First time Louis was in a break ?
And he wins the stage

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Nice win for Meintjes, but it obviously comes with a huge asterisk.