Should Theo Bos be suspended for this?

[Anonymous]

Do not try this at home...

Dr. David Banner? Pal, I have an arthritic shoulder attached to a rebuilt collarbone, and I GUARANTEE I could fling you at least that far if we were bustin' it for the same space.

ok.. can i just post some sort of disclaimer..

please do not try and replicate anything you may have seen at home, on the road, your local park or anywhere else..

we do not need to come on here monday morning to several hospitalised forum members because everyone has spent there weekend trying to find out if it is possible to fling someone that far...

 

[LugHugger]

Really guys. Just think about it. If Bos had the motive to take impey down in a crash, wouldn't he simply push him away and into other riders, or instead of slowing up next to him when pinched by the barriers, try to slip around and then hook him back into the pack? If he had done that, he might have had a chance at saving himself from a crash.

Why in the world would he 'throw' something/someone in front of his own bike, resulting in a 100% chance that he would crash himself.

Yes, Bos's arm moved from the right to the left taking Impey into the barrier. The question is why. I see that Bos hits the barrier FIRST, watch his speed relative to Impey and everyone else. AFTER he drastically slows by hitting the barrier is when Impey comes across because Bos did have a fistful of jersey. I still can't see how this was intentional - just a rule of physics. If Bos was 'throwing' Impey, Bos speed would have stayed constant, and Impey would have sped up. Neither of these things happened. Bos should not have been holding on and should get some punishment from that, but I don't see how anyone can say it was intentional just from the video.

atmo, i don't believe that Bos acted with any intent. just negligence and incompetence. and atmo, he should be suspended - maybe until impey recovers to race fitness - or the start of next season, whichever is earlier. and if impey is forced to retire due to his injuries, and i hope that is not the case, i think that we can be sure that legal proceedings will follow.

 

[mattmos]

Mystery Man

Can anyone confirm for me who the third rider was that tried to squeeze under the arm of Bos? I think he may have something to do with the "throwing action" that bought down Impey

 

[The 'Burnian]

Dr. David Banner? Pal, I have an arthritic shoulder attached to a rebuilt collarbone, and I GUARANTEE I could fling you at least that far if we were bustin' it for the same space. Now, I see myself in the mirror daily (no, it doesn't break all that often), and I'm not green, or even all that buff.

Keep on thinking it's all nice and flowery, and nobody could POSSIBLY do something like that, after all, they're pros, right? Hey -- MONEY's involved, and people -- even nice ones -- will dropkick their mothers for enough of it.

LMAO! But, whilst there's money involved, do you think Bos would consider putting himself in such a position, even in 'the heat of battle', as a smart move from a rider that's used to bangin' and barging with hands ON his 'bars? Just playin' Devil's Advocate here...

 

[The 'Burnian]

How about this? I showed this video to my roommate who's practiced Judo for almost two decades. He agrees: the video shows a tossing action. How could anyone miss this? It befuddles.

Well, he's obviously got an opening on the professional cycling teams...surely they'd pay better than Judo?
Seeing that I've been riding and sprinting for three decades so far, can I ask for my black belt in NFI now?
I bounced your theory off a nuclear physicist friend, and she had this to say: "Clearly, the chain reaction started by cyclists sprinting is the same as Chernobyl all over again. Ergo, cycling is inherently dangerous. How could anyone miss this? I am befuddled." Or words to that effect.
Sorry, Dio, just a p155take at something I believe to be off topic; don't wanna stir ya up. When the voices in my head start talkin', I write it all down..

 

[Old Fart]

Suspend Bos' **s!

Robbie McEwen suggests one month............I say at least one year! First of all, you don't take your hands off the handlebar at 40-45 mph. Secondly, what's your first instinct if you think you are going to fall? You hit the brakes! High speed sprinting is dangerious enough without this kind of recless behavor. If the UCI doesn't nip this in the bud, it will give a green light to future wild behavor.

 

[cougie]

Dr. David Banner? Pal, I have an arthritic shoulder attached to a rebuilt collarbone, and I GUARANTEE I could fling you at least that far if we were bustin' it for the same space. Now, I see myself in the mirror daily (no, it doesn't break all that often), and I'm not green, or even all that buff.

Keep on thinking it's all nice and flowery, and nobody could POSSIBLY do something like that, after all, they're pros, right? Hey -- MONEY's involved, and people -- even nice ones -- will dropkick their mothers for enough of it.

<Cough cough - rubbish - cough cough>

You really think you can pick a guy up and hurl him across the road ? Ha ha ha !

Yes they're professionals - christ - he's an ex World Champion (five times over) - so he does know a tiny bit. I've seen him race the track in real life and I dont recall him pickin up and hurling his rivals left and right off the track ?

Professionals by and large stick to the code - its not like he's an amateur just racing for kicks at the weekend. If he's a *** in the peleton, then he's gonna get whats coming to him.

OK - so he's grabbed the guy in a momentary panic to steady himself - thats a mistake. But thats more likely than the rage option surely ?

So its either physics to account for the fierceness of the crash, or he's a psychotic steroid fuelled lunatic who has thus far kept his Godzilla sized rage under control ?

Hmmmmm - I'm gonna plump for Physics. But then again - I dont go in for all that Creationism rubbish either....

 

[fletch62]

My two cents worth.
If you look at the vision of the finish from in front, the barriers have large metal legs that stick out onto the road area about a foot from the actual barrier. Bos comes up the inside of Impey too fast and gets shut out. He tries to push Impey out of the way but as he does so hits one of the barrier legs turning his bars violently left and his reaction is to grab Impey's jersey and drag him down. Check his left arm on the footage.
Deliberate no, stupid yes.

 

[kickingfred]

<Cough cough - rubbish - cough cough>

You really think you can pick a guy up and hurl him across the road ? Ha ha ha !

Yes they're professionals - christ - he's an ex World Champion (five times over) - so he does know a tiny bit. I've seen him race the track in real life and I dont recall him pickin up and hurling his rivals left and right off the track ?

Professionals by and large stick to the code - its not like he's an amateur just racing for kicks at the weekend. If he's a *** in the peleton, then he's gonna get whats coming to him.

OK - so he's grabbed the guy in a momentary panic to steady himself - thats a mistake. But thats more likely than the rage option surely ?

So its either physics to account for the fierceness of the crash, or he's a psychotic steroid fuelled lunatic who has thus far kept his Godzilla sized rage under control ?

Hmmmmm - I'm gonna plump for Physics. But then again - I dont go in for all that Creationism rubbish either....

That's the worst defence for Bos I've heard yet. Just cause he's a pro and behaved himself on the track (when in full view of the cameras 100% of the time!) means he's incapable of reckless behaviour???? How many times have we rubbed our eyes in disbelief as a sportsperson has done something absolutley mad thats not only taken out the opposition, but themselves as well (Schumacher taking out Hill, Roy Keane destroying that guys ACL, J Hopoate sticking his fingers up other blokes bums in rugby tackles). At first I was like Nah.....must be seeing things! But no. they did it alright. Bos grabbed this guys jersey and slung him!


You should watch some more 6 day to see what a sling looks like.
Have a look at the torque Bos puts through his shoulders and left arm to propel Impey forward in relation to himself.

Bos was steadying himself. Bulldust! if Bos was unsteady he wouldn't have been diving up the inside.

Impey moves over on him. Bulldust! he actually seems to make room as Bos is squeezing up.

 

[cougie]

Handslings sling the rider forward - not across the path.

If something generally makes no sense ( like Bos getting so peeved with a rider that he throws the guy UNDER HIS OWN FRONT WHEEL) then there is usually another explanation.


If he wanted to take him down - theres a lot easier ways to do it than taking yourself out too. Its ridiculous to even think thats what he was doing.

Bos hasnt got any form for mad behaviour - true - that in itself isnt conclusive, but it should make the open minded think a bit.

 

[kickingfred]

Oh, I agree that from my armchair it makes no sense....and Bos is using this defence also....but that's what Schumacher said about crashing into Hill....and why Hopoate got away with having his digits up the oppositions backside for so many matches.....everyone said...Surely not! why would anyone do that?.
But he did it. My eyes tell me its a sling.....and he held on to the jersey too long

 

[cougie]

This is a good explanation :

http://cyclocosm.com/2009/04/the-bos-impey-crash/

Next ride you do with a mate - try and throw him across your path by grabbbing his jersey a la Bos - cant be done. Looks to me like he's started off by putting his hand on the jersey to begin with - we've seen that done in sprints before - its like 'I'm here - dont close me in' and then he seems to grab the jersey in panic when he realises he's going down. And his bike hits the barrier foot, he slows and Impey is wheeled round. Watch the rider on the right of the screen - he was level pegging with Impey, but with Bos hitting the barrier - Impey suddenly falls behind that guy - thats because Bos' bike has slowed dramatically.

Case closed. Definitely not intentional - but maybe he was riding a gap that was too small - we cant tell though as the camera doesnt show us enough. The judges called it this way too.

 

[md2020]

As if this thread isn't long enough I'll add my 2 cents.

I agree with all the folks who say it makes no sense for Bos to deliberately pull a rider into his front wheel. It looked like that to me at first but after further review it really just looks like he's got his hand up on Impy's side (anyone who has raced knows this is a pretty common thing to do even at that speed), clips the barrier and starts to lose control, and then grabs Impy's jersey to steady himself. It's the final action that was the big mistake and, while not deliberate, was ultimately a result of his poor positioning along the barricade. I'd say that a one month suspension sounds about right but I might also add a fine.

 

[spoker]

And Armstrong?

Can we now start debating the suspension Armstrong should get for walking out of a dope control with all the time to manipulate?
I would say 4 months is fair. Maybe Theo Bos can give his input via twitter as well.

 

[The 'Burnian]

Can we now start debating the suspension Armstrong should get for walking out of a dope control with all the time to manipulate?
I would say 4 months is fair. Maybe Theo Bos can give his input via twitter as well.

Fair call! Although, would 'the most tested athlete in the world'(by whoever's estimation) have disappeared this time 'round, with all the eyes in the cycling and doping world upon him if he thought the tester in question was the real deal? Hmmm..another can of worms altogether!
Sorry; we're off topic now. Back to the fireworks at hand: Bos for a month off and a fine is my call.

 

[kickingfred]

The movement in the barriers says Bos clips the barrier as he is propeling Impey in a forward manner. Just att he point when Bos' right hand is moving forward of his own shoulder, the barrier line deviates like Bos is touching it.

The point of this? Well the barrier is not to blame for a jersey grab and sling. this was already well in motion. I suspect it contributed to the pulling of Impey in front of him.
But Bos was well into the slinging motion before either of them hit the barrier

 

[vandevelde09]

Yeah, Bos is definetely to blame, but I don't think he pulled Impey down, he just panicked and made the wrong decision.
As for Impey, he won the race anyway and wasn't seriously injured so

Not seriously injured??????????? Are you Nuts?????

"As well as face injuries, a deep cut to his upper lip and the loss of a tooth, the crash caused the fracture of his first two lower back vertebra: L1 and L2. He will have to stay on his back for some time and a special flight will arranged to allow him to stay in that position."

 

[Zoncolan]

Not seriously injured??????????? Are you Nuts?????

"As well as face injuries, a deep cut to his upper lip and the loss of a tooth, the crash caused the fracture of his first two lower back vertebra: L1 and L2. He will have to stay on his back for some time and a special flight will arranged to allow him to stay in that position."

When I made the comment, I did so based on the info I had at the time. Really sorry to find out LATER how serious Impey's injuries are. Bos should definetely get punished, but I still feel it wasn't on purpose.

 

[Anonymous]

blimey.. whats amazing me, is my video is now being carried on cycling weekly, various other papers including the telegraph (and ive had an email from a newspaper asking for my thoughts which i graciously declined) and bob roll has twittered it..

still no word from the uci that i can see of, which considering it is now snowballing and even the non cycling press are picking it up surprises me..

 

[tifosa]

It's tough to prove intent and malice aforethought.

Take the suspension Boss, apologize for your ill-thought actions, and ride with your hands on the bars. Geeze!

 

[HoustonHammer]

Why do you think Bos wasn't in a position to win? Find a video that shows the whole finale. Looks like Impey and Bos were sitting #12 and #13 when they went down, and there was about 1km to go. Definitely there were a lot of changes at the front after their crash, and the sprint didn't start until quite a bit after. To me that means his position was just about ideal to start a run at the finish.

Here's the thing I keep wondering about as I tend to agree with those who think it would be hard to hurl Impey like that: did Impey's bike get hooked somehow by Bos's? You can't really tell as the shot is cut a little too high, but from the way that Impey flew around, I keep thinging that maybe Impey's pedal went into Bos's wheel or something. Bos definitely had hold of his jersey, but could there have been something a lot more mechanical happening out of view?

Either way, Bos should get a penalty. It was stupid place to try to squeeze through and he has to be responsible, regardless of intention.

 

[bentman]

Theo Bos should definitely be suspended

Theo Bos took his hands off his handle bars and grabbed another rider pulling him down in the middle of a sprint. Theo's crime was clearly and unambiguously captured on video. He should serve a suspension, regardless of his intentions, his character, his feelings of remorse, or his history as a world champion. He commited a crime, and he should be punished - end of story. I also think Rabobank is blowing it by defending him. Banks need to project an image of respectibility not one of spiteful thuggishness.

 

[cougie]

Unambigous ? So why have we been chewing this over all week. The camera doesnt show enough of the race or with enough detail to see the true story.

 

[Bikerider]

Theo

From the telegraph.co.uk Theo says look at the video before you comment. Well we have all watched the clip, that is why we all have a view and can comment about the stupid dangerous action!! What ever he says, the video does not lie, he says he was trying to pull Impey back Why!!! and why try to keep Impey back!!! At the end of the day going into a sprint both hands should be on the handlebars and not holding on someone's jersey. I have watched it over and over, just before the crash, to me both riders or going straight and keeping their line, and Impey crashes first then Theo, and Impey was in front of Theo, so why pull him back, it did not look like pulling him back to me, but slinging forward, that is why he crashed, and HE IS NOT A MADISON RIDER so why sling a rider. AND IF YOU ARE FALLING SURLEY YOUR INSTINTS IS TO LET GO.
Also the rails to me were in a straight line, and neither rider looked that close together, so I am baffled, I just do not understand what he was thinking. He must be feeling awful now, and I hope he has learnt a lesson, and a lesson to all riders, that action's like that can not be tolerated. I think he should have some time out and be disciplined, cause what lesson's are you giving to the up and coming riders. If he does not get suspended for a while, others might think its ok to nearly kill some one!!! WHY SHOULD HE RACE WHEN IMPEY CAN’T?
DO YOU THINK THE COMMENTATOR SAW MORE THAN US ON THE VIDEO, AS HE WAS VERY UPSET AT WHAT HE SAW!!!

 

[marinoni]

Wow, I'm speechless!

What could have possibly triggered that? Bos not only throws the race leader down, but also insures that he is going to crash as well. Disgraceful.

Yeah, what could have triggered that? It just makes no sense. I kind of reminds me of Zidane's headbutt.