Should Theo Bos be suspended for this?

[Jasper]

Isn't it plausible that Bos did indeed panic a bit because he got boxed in, felt he was slowly losing his balance and thought "Heck, if I'm going down because of you, I'm taking you with me!"? Who knows what kind of pressure Bos was under, and it was a very nervous finale with numerous crashes. For all we know, there could have already been little incidents in the previous kilometres. I believe there was mention of a crash at about 1,5 km before the finish, maybe Bos already got involved there somehow (maybe even barely managed to avoid it?), and got even more pumped with adrenaline? Which made him lose it when Impey boxed him in and he not only was in acute danger of crashing, but also saw every chance on a sprint victory vanish into thin air. In that case there's no real intention to take Impey down, but it could explain why he reacted the way he did, something along the lines of 'I just dodged a crash, no way I'm going down now and lose this sprint, you *******s'.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

It really is a normal reflex, when you fall, you try to grab something...

An accident, but still irresponsible driving. I'd say one month suspension.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Good job digging that vid up. But Steeles was rightfully punished. Zabel as well.

But you think Bos shouldn't be for dangerous riding???

Too bad there is no video of Casagrande crashing Garcia, as Casa was kicked out of the Giro and suspended, though he kept his hands on the handlebars the entire time. Something Bos couldn't even do.

And why is it that in the entire history of cycling, of all the thousands of riders boxed in during field sprints or pushed upagainst the barriers, not one single time before did we ever see someone take their hands off the handlebars and grab another rider by the jersey?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

It really is a normal reflex, when you fall, you try to grab something...

If that's the case, in all the thousands of crashes we've seen over the years, not once before have we see someone do this?

It's a normal reflex I suppose for a Cat 4 or 5 racer in a big criterium, but not normal, no acceptable behavior for a professional cyclist.

Imagine if this happened once a week. Would we just say it's "normal"?

 

[Jasper]

It really is a normal reflex, when you fall, you try to grab something...

In everyday life, yes. When you're on a bike at 55 kph in a big bunch of riders, no.

And as far as these images can be conclusive, there's no indication of Bos pulling Impey down while Bos himself was falling, but rather Bos falling after he pulled Impey down. There's also no indication of the sudden loss of momentum there should be if Bos hit the barrier with his front wheel, as he claims he did.

 

[Stelvio]

There can't be any doubt that it was Bos that caused Impey to crash. If he meant to throw him head-first into the barriers or not.. does it really matter? He grabbed his jersey and obviously (to me, at least) tried to madison-throw him forward. A rider unprepared, and somewhat out of balance (due to the bumping with the next rider out), does not counter steer such an action and will consequently turn left. Also, Bos comes up real quick on Impey's left so he basically boxes himself in. People get (at least) deplaced(?) for some elbowing, so some sort of official punishment should/must be given.

I remember the Casagrande thingy.. I was afraid that Ivanov was about to pull a similar stunt in Amstel, it was a bit like 2.40-2.50 except that Casagrande moved faster and closer to the barriers (IIRC).

 

[jaylew]

If that's the case, in all the thousands of crashes we've seen over the years, not once before have we see someone do this?
It's a normal reflex I suppose for a Cat 4 or 5 racer in a big criterium, but not normal, no acceptable behavior for a professional cyclist.

No kidding. Never even seen a Cat 4 or 5 rider pull something like that.

 

[Bala Verde]

For some more interesting skin to tarmac action:

http://video.cyclingnews.com/2007/tour07/tour07a02.php

30 years ago sprinters punched each other while they were sprinting. Heck 40 years ago they even used frame pumps to knock each other out. I forgot the dutch rider who, in a documentary, said he took a win in the tour de france, I guess in Bordeaux, because he or his team mate pulled another sprinter back.

And then there is your occasional pushing and shoving, jersey grabbing, as well as this:

a head but t?

Amazing how these guys can do that at such speeds!

 

[Stampie]

Why Bos should not be punished ...

As you watch the video again and again, you'll the yellow jersey starting on the right part road, and going more and more to the left. Bos is in the wheel of a Quickstep (white blue shirt) who is passing the yellow jersey.

Then you see Bos his steer going left and right (just before the big accident), and after that he tries to break his fall by taking the shoulder of the yellow jersey.

There is no evidence that Bos did this on purpose. Look at the video and see Bos' steer going left/right !

 

[Dio1082]

As you watch the video again and again, you'll the yellow jersey starting on the right part road, and going more and more to the left. Bos is in the wheel of a Quickstep (white blue shirt) who is passing the yellow jersey.

Then you see Bos his steer going left and right (just before the big accident), and after that he tries to break his fall by taking the shoulder of the yellow jersey.

There is no evidence that Bos did this on purpose. Look at the video and see Bos' steer going left/right !

Are you kidding? You can clearly see Bos's torso shift for a toss. One doesn't pivot their entire body if the primary interest is stabilization. Note his left shoulder rise as he pulls the rider while his entire torso pulls left. It looked almost like a Judo toss. You'd really have to be willing to miss the obvious to not see the throw in this case

 

[redcardinal]

Hmm,

I always love how people on forums can come to decisions based on very little evidence...

Look guys, we only saw a little bit of this crash, coming up from the bottom of the screen. We also only saw it from one angle (above). Yet many of you are ready to form a lynching party on that basis.

Do you really think that this crash was deliberately engineered when both parties were guaranteed to crash

The race officials studied the same footage and presumably had the opportunity to speak to the participants along with any witnesses. (Something none of us had the opportunity to do). They appear not to have thought that this was anything other than an accident and that no further action need be taken.

Now who is more likely to be right? The guys with years of experience of refereeing races and who were actually there or us on this forum who have neither the experience nor who were there but only watched it on tv. Personally, it's no contest and I'll go with the former...

Btw had to laugh at Armstrong's comment "...He deserves a long suspension...". One might think given his current trouble that he would think it prudent not to mention the word "suspension" but apparantly not

 

[Bala Verde]

Hmm,

I always love how people on forums can come to decisions based on very little evidence...

Look guys, we only saw a little bit of this crash, coming up from the bottom of the screen. We also only saw it from one angle (above). Yet many of you are ready to form a lynching party on that basis.

Do you really think that this crash was deliberately engineered when both parties were guaranteed to crash

The race officials studied the same footage and presumably had the opportunity to speak to the participants along with any witnesses. (Something none of us had the opportunity to do). They appear not to have thought that this was anything other than an accident and that no further action need be taken.

Now who is more likely to be right? The guys with years of experience of refereeing races and who were actually there or us on this forum who have neither the experience nor who were there but only watched it on tv. Personally, it's no contest and I'll go with the former...

Btw had to laugh at Armstrong's comment "...He deserves a long suspension...". One might think given his current trouble that he would think it prudent not to mention the word "suspension" but apparantly not

+1... even re: Armstrong.

 

[SMPress]

Absolutely yes he should be suspended!!

It is so clearly obvious that Bos reached out ahead, grabbed Impey by his jersey pocket and slammed him down. That it totally and utterly inexcusable! He wasn't "falling" onto him as some have theorized...and if he were, he would've just kept his hands on the bars and leaned into him as experienced pros know how to do.

And while riders used to punch each other, stick frame pumps in rival's wheels, etc, the whole reason they don't do that anymore is because there's cameras everywhere, so clearly dirty riding can be seen! (Bos apparently didn't realize that he might be on camera!)

 

[beestrong]

it looks bad, there is no way around it..

sincerely no one would ever be this cruel, cycling is dangerous enough as it is
look at Schlek yesterday in Amstel

however Bos got some sorry *** bad instincts!

suspension is called for palm reflex or not (last time he used it was as a babyboy )

Congrats 2 Katusha in Amstel !!!

 

[beestrong]

cool editing, picture more worth than a thousand words!!1

good work man

 

[quadsRme]

I have never seen a finish like this one!!!!

Utterly crazy!! His team should give him the boot. Of all the dirty low down things to do. What a sportsman

 

[Anonymous]

impeys twitter (dont you love em)

"darylimpey> In hospital very sore but will be back! No giro d italia for me I won't be able to ride for 4 weeks. So sad! Theo Boss what a toss"

 

[firsthippy]

I don't know.. I watched it and for the first 10 times I was SURE Bos just dragged Impey into the barriers and I was horrified that someone could be so stupid.

But, looking at it the 15th time or something I noticed that Bos kind of drags Impey and then pushes him into the gap left by the rider accelerating away from them in front. Almost like Impey was moving over and Bos wanted to move him out of the way. Obviously just dragging Impey into the barries would've also taken Bos out so it seems more like he was trying to push Impey into the newly formed gap..

hip

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

You could analyze the vid to death, but you just cannot do that at full gallop (60 kph or something) and not get what's coming to you. Crash, repercussions, or otherwise.

It's one thing to nudge somebody ahead out on the road riding in the bunch or wherever, but in a pack sprint, no way.

 

[ingsve]

I think that Impey should not have won the race. He was clearly getting helped across the line by a team mate and that's against the rules.

People are very selective in who to judge and what rules to enforce...

 

[willem]

Why would theo push daryl right in front of his own front wheel!
Theo probably did it out of self defence since the south african "piskop" probably thought he was superior to theo. Because of the yellow jersey

 

[Aapjes]

I don't think you can see it properly by just looking at the youtube video, you need to look at this one as well:

http://picasaweb.google.de/hokmann/ExportierteVideos#5326486090944553314

If you look closely, you can see that just as Bos starts pulling Impey in front of him, he starts hitting the barriers (they start moving). He keeps pushing Impey further in front of him, but goes down just as he should have let go of Impey. Then he keeps holding on to Impey (by reflex or simply because he forgets to let go), which results in the big pull leftward.

In short, I think that Bos actually tried to save Impey from a crash, but accidentially made it much worse instead. If Bos had hit the barriers a few seconds later, Impey might have been fine. I also think that you have to keep in mind Bos never encountered barriers like this on the track or was in a 30 man sprint. I've seen some crazy moves by sprinters that had years of road experience. Unfortunately there is no sprint school where you learn what to do in a bad spot like this. Still, you would've hoped that Freire or Brown would have taught him a bit more.

 

[Magooo]

Everyone else has an opinion, so I figure I may as well add mine. I think it's the guy on red (lotto maybe?) that causes the problem, although you couldn't really blame the crash on him because he's in front of them both. Bos is just about to pass Impey on his left (he's about level with him) & then the red guy comes left into Impey, who shifts Bos a little left just as the barrier also comes right. I do think Bos causes Impey to come down by not letting go of his jersey as he himself goes down but I think that's probably reflex rather than intentional, I think initially he just touches his jersey to let him know he's coming through a tight space. Track riders do that sort of thing all the time, particularly since they're used to riding in tight groups at high speed with no brakes. You don't see it much in road sprints though, I'm not sure why. I think it's fair to say Bos causes the crash by trying to go through a gap that's not suitable, but I don't think it's any more sinister than than. I'd still be filthy if I were Impey though.

 

[tifosa]

Boss' moves (track tactics misapplied in a road race) were reactive and poorly executed which resulted in a crap finish for all involved.

Theo Boss was wrong.

 

[llamma]

theo bos should be banned. Washed up old rag that he is.
That was intentional.
Screw that dutch piece of sh@#. The dutch are
That was no mere hand on the back of the mans shoulder to let him know he was there. That was a grab and throw.