O Gran Camiño 2024, Spain, February 22-25

[Red Rick]

That is not the same logic, you've taken it to an absurd end for the purposes of avoiding all nuance. This is with regards to an extremely specific situation, not 'every descent'.

What do you do in extreme weather conditions which fall on that boundary? Creating a binary of if it's not too dangerous to cancel it is safe enough to race or cancel is not a serious suggestion, it's just the opinion of a cranky viewer.

Well, in this case the danger would mainly be from gusts of wind, which are completely down to the weather, and not at all down to rider behavior. So things like deciding to use road bikes or no disc wheels allowed are actually fine safety measures by me.

But weather you're going all out or not has very little bearing on weather you get swept up by a gust of wind, which is why the safety argument for neutralization makes no sense to me.

 

[Salvarani]

Why did the team managers had the right to vote to nullify or not GC times? Isn't that the job of UCI commissaires, to evaluate the situation and take the necessary measures to minimize risks?

Whole thing is a farce.

 

[Brullnux]

Well, in this case the danger would mainly be from gusts of wind, which are completely down to the weather, and not at all down to rider behavior. So things like deciding to use road bikes or no disc wheels allowed are actually fine safety measures by me.

But weather you're going all out or not has very little bearing on weather you get swept up by a gust of wind, which is why the safety argument for neutralization makes no sense to me.

The effectiveness of the safety measures is a very fair point, but I don't think it takes away from the possibility of a non-binary approach to extreme weather conditions.

Re this particular case, I guess the counterpoint would be that it's much easier to control a bike in a strong (>80kmh) gust of wind at 35kmh than 50kmh, and the impact of falling lower. From then on, it's the rider's decision, I suppose.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

I don't understand this debate. Neutralized stages which still produces a winner happen frequently.
The reason you don't cancel it altogether is because at least host city still gets the show of seeing the riders.

 

[Netserk]

Why did the team managers had the right to vote to nullify or not GC times? Isn't that the job of UCI commissaires, to evaluate the situation and take the necessary measures to minimize risks?

https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5an/3zdJc5antr1dA3GYeDKdBu/bc9967f2f2be76f3bd0973db6e5cbca2/2-ROA-20240101-E.pdf

What vote did they take?

 

[Netserk]

If Kelderman doesn't crash, the conditions are not too dangerous.

 

[Tim Cahill]

TJV's real GC leader appears to be flying

 

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1760676698323099791

View: https://twitter.com/vismaleaseabike/status/1760676698323099791?s=20

 

[Brullnux]

Conditions look perfect 😭😭 all this for nothing

 

[Netserk]

Yeah, this could easily have been for GC.

 

[Bolder]

I'm fine with using road bikes but I can't understand the neutralization argument. For 99% of the riders, why even try? The "exposure" that A Coruña gets is hardly going to make a difference for anything, methinks...

 

[Ilmaestro99]

They are ruining cycling , what a joke. It's a time trial, it's a race, it's a 2.1 race. Let the riders race the conditions as they see fit. Ffs every race it's getting ruined these days

 

[Netserk]

Unsure if Sosa took it easy or not.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Looks like a lovely day out there, bit of a coastal breeze of course, maybe road bikes are fine but neutralisation seems overkill

 

[ingsve]

Uijtebroeks not in a hurry today at least.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Cian Usdfnjjsanh a mere 1:02 down at T1, the Whatsapp groups will be buzzing tonight.

 

[Netserk]

Cian Usdfnjjsanh a mere 1:02 down at T1, the Whatsapp groups will be buzzing tonight.

Maybe his mechanic didn't prepare his bike properly.

 

[Rob5091]

Maybe his mechanic didn't prepare his bike properly.

Headwind!

 

[Tim Cahill]

Now passed by Figueiredo of Glassdrive. Semi-Iconic.

 

[RedheadDane]

A Jumbo rider being overtaken by a rider from a random Portuguese conti-team in an ITT is definitely not something I was expecting to see today...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I agree with the decision to neutralise the stage, but it would still be a little funny if it is won by Maxim van Gils (or an equivalent) and the rest of the stages end up being cancelled.

 

[zlev11]

so this stage doesnt count for GC? wtf? this is getting ridiculous

 

[Netserk]

The Danish commentators haven't noticed that the weakening wind favours later riders in the first section and lessens their tailwind in the last one.

 

[DNP-Old]

How can anyone look at these conditions and think this warrants a semi cancellation?

 

[Rob5091]

Little Lenny M must be glad it's neutralized today. Go Lenny!