Should Theo Bos be suspended for this?

[Buffalo Soldier]

The natural reaction if you really think you're in danger is to lock up on the brakes and usually get taken out from behind. Nobody ever takes their hands off the bars, that's suicide.

Like I said: Bos is track cyclist, he isn't used to have brakes.

 

[Anonymous]

Well... as I'm sure it's been said, Bos caused the accident but I don't believe he intentionally threw Impey into the barriers. (But it certainly looked like it on first viewing and with the reaction by the announcer.)

I'd blame it on inexperience and stupid barriers. I'm not sure if better ones are available but having barriers with "feet" sticking out onto the road in a tight "alley way" in the final lead up to the sprint may not have been a bright idea.

Everyone knows that it gets pretty tight in the final km's and having barriers like that are just not safe. Maybe they should have double barriers. One to keep fans back and one safer barrier for the [inexperienced/stupid] riders to run into [if they try to squeaze into a space that's not there]. (If you can think of a solution you'll be rich!)

I also believe that Bos did not throw Impey. If he did he's a helluva strong guy. It was him grabbing onto Impey (and holding onto him) for dear life and the momentum of the sudden stop from hitting the barrier that caused the unfortunate accident. But that's still no excuse for what he did.

Should he be banned? No. Suspended and fined, maybe... for making a "rookie" type mistake of trying to squeaze into a spot that wasn't there and then grabbing onto another rider in panic. Very unprofessional! But that's something he will certainly learn for next time and as he gets more experience riding in those situations.

It looked pretty clear to me that it was an accident mixed in with stupidity and inexperience. The fact that he pulled down the yellow jersey and the announcer's [over]reaction made the situation sound more criminal.

It sucks and unfortunate for everyone involved but not criminal.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I'm not sure if better ones are available but having barriers with "feet" sticking out onto the road in a tight "alley way" in the final lead up to the sprint may not have been a bright idea.

I believe i've have seen some other barriers, don't know where. Looks like a reversed 7, so no feet...

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Theo could take some pointers from these Chinese sprinters. Look how well-mannered they are.

 

[Anonymous]

And people harpin' an LA for his reaction to the incident... Well, I felt the exact same way as LA when I saw it but the anger was more fueled by the announcer's reaction and immediate finger pointing at Bos.

And the fact that Twitter is used as a "right then and there" reaction or response tool then that's exactly what you get. So don't blame LA for everyone's gut reaction to the incident as well. Blame yourselves for reacting to someone else's reaction before looking at the incident more closely. Even Robbie McCewen initially accused Bos.

Oh well...

 

[titan_90]

As I said earlier I don't think he intentionally brought down Impey. However it was a stupid boneheaded move and I do think he should be banned for a couple months to let him think about what happened.

 

[Bikerider]

I can accept when you are racing you touch some one to stop them coming into you, touch!!!! not a handful and not on the sprint finish at that speed, if he was going to crash why grab someone’s jersey, and get a hand full and throw them forward, your instincts are to try and save your self, with both hands on the bars, to keep your own balance. Those who are trying to protect him must be looking at a different video, but there is no excuse grabbing hold of some one when he says he was coming down, the comments do not add up. They are giving loads of excuses and suggestions what happened. But they can not take away he was grabbing his jersey, why!!! He says I was falling and can not remember you don't have time to think. but he had time to think about getting hold of someone’s jersey, he has no excuse, he says he wants to watch the video himself, will be good to see what his take is on it when he has watched it!!! And why talk about a Madison throws, he is a track sprinter not a bunch rider. I have never seen anything like this before, some one getting a handful of another rider’s jersey and throwing them forward. I would like to know what was going though his mind!!! but will never no he will use the exuse I can not remember, but the poor guy in hospital will remember, and he has many ijuries to get over.
,

 

[slowoldman]

see if it was abdoujap, id just be shrugging.. that guy was capable of crashing into himself..

I actually laughed out loud when I read that dimspace....hilarious!
(I believe that may be abdu on the far right of the pic!)

My thoughts, Bos found himself where he didn't belong, as we all will do once in a while in the heat of competition (in the final k). He was squeezed and reached out to let Impey know he was there. Impey just held position as best he could hence the little bounce off the rider to his right. Bos panicked and tried to "throw" Impey in front of him (into a non existent space unfortunately)to open up space for himself. Remember all this happened within a couple of seconds, and I am not claiming it was right or wise for that matter. That mistake was compounded as it squeezed Bos into the barriers even more, creating further panic where he grabbed Impey instinctually to save his own . Again, not right or wise. I believe it was a combination of Bos's overestimation of his own ability, the lack of experience in a road atmosphere and the consequences of panic.

Disclaimer....this is giving everything I can to Bos, and quite frankly taking some credit away from Impey. My head just does not want to admit to a rider doing this purposely..

 

[Mellow Velo]

Imagine this.
Intermediate stage, half way through the 2009 Tour.
Lance is in yellow.
Needs to stay at the front, incase splits in the remaining peloton occur.
Boonan and Bennati up for the Green Jersey points.
Boonan gets a lead out, Bennati coming up, fast on the rails.
Possible slight shift in the head of the group towards the barrier.
Bennati panics and catches hold of Lance's jersey.
Ends up slinging him the crowd and out of the Tour.

Commies say no one was to blame.

Reactions?

 

[Angliru]

Glad to hear Robbie speak up on the issue.

Robbie McEwen would be one of the last sprinters that I would take any value in their opinions on what transpired with his sketchy past and subsequent "Who me?" response to all his transgressions. Talented sprinter? Yes. Not the cleanest of sorts though. Granted bunch sprints are chaotic but McEwen has never been one to concern himself at all with the safety of his competitors in his all out assaults to the line. He's famous for going from one side of the road to another with no regard for who's progress he impedes nor for what the consequences behind him may be.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Maybe if things start to get worse in the sprints, the UCI will allow a provision to mount gun racks!!!

 

[jaylew]

Imagine this.
Intermediate stage, half way through the 2009 Tour.
Lance is in yellow.
Needs to stay at the front, incase splits in the remaining peloton occur.
Boonan and Bennati up for the Green Jersey points.
Boonan gets a lead out, Bennati coming up, fast on the rails.
Possible slight shift in the head of the group towards the barrier.
Bennati panics and catches hold of Lance's jersey.
Ends up slinging him the crowd and out of the Tour.

Commies say no one was to blame.

Reactions?

Pretty much the same. 95% of people saying Benna should be banned/penalized. Much bigger story, of course...

 

[Anonymous]

or they could just drag one of these behind the team car...

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

.....or one of these.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

There's something lost in the fray here:

It doesn't matter if he did it intentional or not, Someone who races this dangerously shouldn't be allowed in the peloton.

We are arguing back and forth whether he did it intently or not. It doesn't matter when it comes to suspending the guy. In the history of cycling I have never, ever, ever seen anyone do this. The most egregious crashes I could think of I brought up before about Casagrade, Abdu, Issac, and Dave brought up Bettini's accident. But those guys never reached up and grabbed someone by the jersey. There is simply no room in the sport for someone who rides that dangerously, accident or not.

MeloVelo is right. What if mid-way through the Tour someone did this to Contador, Lance or Sastre? If it were an "accident" would you still think that rider should be allowed to race?

 

[jaylew]

There's something lost in the fray here:

It doesn't matter if he did it intentional or not, Someone who races this dangerously shouldn't be allowed in the peloton.

I don't think it's been lost at all. Many of us have basically made that exact point, though maybe it wasn't stated as explicitly as you just did.

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe if things start to get worse in the sprints, the UCI will allow a provision to mount gun racks!!!

Bwahahaha! Is that German or Texan?

 

[franciep10]

Put your nooses back in the closet and stop sleeping with that old Postal jersey on.

how do you know i sleep in an old postal jersey, have u been spying on me lol

 

[Anonymous]

.....or one of these.

genuis.. post of the year..

 

[Anonymous]

ok.. seems the uci are going to investigate...
they found this photo in the rabobank hotel.. was taken in the training camp a couple of weeks ago..

looks mighty suspicious to me

 

[mr. tibbs]

This thread is full of win!!

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

But people are arguing as if the guy shouldn't be admonished in any way, since it may have been an "accident".

 

[campycycling66]

absolutely not!

i believe it's clear that bos is actually trying to prevent the accident.

he is not grabbing for impey's shoulder in an attempt to pull him into the barriers, but rather to push him away.

the barriers are all over the place. the peleton moves to the left and leaves bos with no where to go. he is trying to keep the group from forcing him into the barriers.

to suggest that bos would try to pull down a rider like that is absurd. consider also his history and pedigree. why would a rider of his caliber do what some are suggesting over a small and inconsequencial race like this. bos is to impey's left and not entirely behind him... there is no way he could have pulled impey down without the possibility of doing serious damage to himself. it just would not happen ever! maybe it takes a sprinter to understand... maybe bos was in a bad position... but did he intentionally try to take impey down? never!!

i believe the video is clear.

 

[Bala Verde]

Haha, I remember this intentional act very well (not causing an accident)

Tom Steels (46s into the clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzTZV0TYG-U

It contains ALL the drama. Abdu tested positive, Steels throws a water bottle and Zabel gets declassified for irregular sprinting.

Now stop whining and leave Bos alone. It was an unintentional accident, and as far as I remember, Flecha wasn't disqualified or suspended for bringing Hoste and Vansummeren down in this years PR due to his crash. He took that corner irresponsibly sharp...

and Armstrong should shut his trap on twitter, or carefully pick his words (which he has never been able to do throughout his career and which is impossible on a 140 character txting application).

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

he is not grabbing for impey's shoulder in an attempt to pull him into the barriers, but rather to push him away.

Grab, to push away? When you go to push someone, do you grab them in the process? And then not let go?

Either way, this is absolutely dangerous riding and Bos should be punished accordingly. As I noted more than once before, in 25 years of watching the sport, and having been an amateur racer, I never once have seen anyone race in such a dangerous manner as this. Not once.