Tdf Stage 11 - Thursday, July 15 2010, Sisteron - Bourg-lès-Valence, 180 km

[Cobblestones]

Renshaw sent home - confirmed on the RAI

VS coverage has ended without mentioning that, but Phil was praising the 'great character of the Manx missile'.

 

[Jamsque]

Cav was actually surprisingly careful about what he said in the interview, he clearly wanted to support his team-mate but he also clearly didn't want to endorse Renshaw's behaviour. Obviously he won't have seen Renshaw cutting up Tyler Farrar behind him.

 

[ansimi]

VS coverage has ended without mentioning that, but Phil was praising the 'great character of the Manx missile'.

If only they could have a mike on Cav live when he learned about the Renshaw decision

 

[Straßenrennen]

I'm all for the age old cycling solution: only throw them out if somebody actually got hurt.

Am not sure you would say the same if you had the crash at 50kph++ because some idiot was acting like it was war not biking. Yes there was no crash but it was definatly more due to good luck than good managment.

 

[Captain Serious]

I don't think so mate... if you see the repetition Renshaw give a brief look behind and when he see Farrar he move his bike to block him...

Yep, I think you're right. I just had another look at the overhead shot, and i think he did turn his head around far enough to see what colour the jersey was coming up. And he didn't really have any other reason for going off his line so far; he had clear road in front and pretty much on either side. Either way, is it excessive to be booted out for that? Wow! Why couldn't they just relegate him to last place?

 

[rabofan]

It's getting more like "Wacky Races" each day.
Mr. D Dastardly (Mark Renshaw) won't be competing in the next episode.

 

[Gregory]

Good riddance

 

[therhodeo]

Wow! Why couldn't they just relegate him to last place?

Because being in last place wouldn't mean any more to him than a firm talking to. He's a leadout man not a GC guy. He'd probably take last place every sprint stage if it meant Cav winning.

 

[Liquigas]

Good riddance

+1 This sport doesn't need idiots like Renshaw.

 

[Bailey]

I think really it's too harsh. It's a bit like Harry Kewell's red card in the World Cup.

 

[The Hitch]

also by throwing him out, the organizers managed to bring a bit of controversy into the tour, on what has been 2 days of very boring stages. and as we all know controversy creates cash + interest + people might forget about the poor quality of the stage.

Then again, ive already been accused of being a cynic once in this thread.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Why couldn't they just relegate him to last place?

Would have no impact. Unless they take points or the win away from Cav, there would be absolutely no reason for any lead out man not to employ the same attitude during any of the sprints. Their whole purpose is to be the sacrificial lamb for the main man. Fines, points, etc for a rider who is simply not there to feature in the first place, who cares?

They had to draw a line here. It is clearly time to cool it up front, and if this would be too painless, that's the new permissible bar right there. They gave the only one that would deter. I fully agree.

If he hadn't made that final cynical move sideways, I would probably have felt it too harsh too. But that last one was far too dangerous, vindictive and too premeditated to ignore.

 

[kurtinsc]

Can/Should they relegate a team when a rider does something like this? Give everyone the time they would have gotten, but put them at the back of the group for the day (no points/no stage win).

Would be just as tough if not more-so... but not send a rider home.

 

[Cerberus]

I'm all for the age old cycling solution: only throw them out if somebody actually got hurt.

You can't possibly be serious. You're really suggesting (almost) anything is permissible as long as dumb luck or the victim backing of prevents a crash?

Honestly though I think it should be possible to relegate the sprinter for what his lead out does. The way it is they've basically only got two options, tossing out the offending rider or giving him a slap on the wrist.

 

[Straßenrennen]

I think really it's too harsh. It's a bit like Harry Kewell's red card in the World Cup.

How an earth did u manage to come up with idea? Kewell got hit by the ball while jumping after he controlled it with his chest, he couldnt help it, unless Renshaw has shellshock or some other problem that causes him to shake his head like an idiot in the sprint....

 

[Jamsque]

While Renshaw fully deserved his punishment today, I do think his behaviour was out of character for him. He is a master of the jostling and barging that is a natural part of the last few KMs of races like this, but I've never seen him do something as dangerous and cynical as his move against Farrar today. I guess he must have seen him moving up and suddenly panicked that he would over-take Cav, since he'd had to launch his sprint from so far out.

 

[Kazistuta]

I think really it's too harsh. It's a bit like Harry Kewell's red card in the World Cup.

More like Zinedine Zidane's red card in the World Cup final vs. Italy in '06 - not too harsh!

 

[Burnette]

Head and Shoulders Above

Wow, I read an article about rough sprints/putting someone in the barriers and headn butting in Velo News but this is the first time I saw head butting in a race myself. Wow. Hit somebody with your head. Was Renshaws' head butting we just saw typical of the tactic or was it the wildest expression you ever saw?
Hey I just saw a replay of the final sprint and the Garmin riders bike and shoulder was leaning towards Renshaw. Renshaws' head butting didn't slow the Garmin rider down and he said in the interview that the incident was just a racing incident but dang, that is some weird tactic.
Honestly Farrar was about three lengths back(was he held up by somebody else) before he reached Renshaw, Farrar wouldn't have caught Cav.
I did enjoy the drive to the finish, seeing the teams organize, fight for a wheel and position. It looks like you have to have goons who can clear the way for you, squeeze or be sqeezed. Sprints can be won alone I guess but it so much a team win at times. Team sprint goes to Cav's team. Sprinters going head to head by themsleves, I'm not sure were they would all stack up but Cav has got a seriuosly fast and long kick.

 

[Ryaguas]

Did Dean get punished?

I don't think so... Dean just was "elbowing" and for the TdF Management seems that this is acceptable...

Why couldn't they just relegate him to last place?

Well I think that
1st: The TdF management wants to make an example and mark where is the line that you don't have to cross...

2nd: This ride is seen by kids and others riders and this is not fair play so again they want to make example and say that this is not an example of good riding...

It's getting more like "Wacky Races" each day.
Mr. D Dastardly (Mark Renshaw) won't be competing in the next episode.

Ufffff I'm thinking that Renshaw could be banned from Le Tour for one or two years... let's see what is going to be his fate...

 

[Roland Rat]

also by throwing him out, the organizers managed to bring a bit of controversy into the tour, on what has been 2 days of very boring stages. and as we all know controversy creates cash + interest + people might forget about the poor quality of the stage.

Then again, ive already been accused of being a cynic once in this thread.

Or an opportunity to break up the dominant sprint train.

 

[Francois the Postman]

I think really it's too harsh. It's a bit like Harry Kewell's red card in the World Cup.

If you are gonna compare it to football, retaliation (that Renshaw swerve after the initial incident) would be an instant red on its own.

 

[old_bram]

A couple of offences there according to the race rules (UCI and ASO).

1) Voluntary obstruction and unauthorised manoeuvres are forbidden and will be penalised.
2) riders who deviate from the line they have chosen will be subject to (the) penalties
3) Competitors who commit assault. . . . . . will be penalised.

In the Disqualification / Exclusion Section, the following are reasons for expulsion.
A breach of the event’s rules, indecent behaviour, damaging the image of the tour.

There's no mention of an appeal to the ASO within the rules, and not really a leg to stand on, so game over.

 

[mowie133]

+1 This sport doesn't need idiots like Renshaw.

my god some people are dills!!! calling the kettle black much you are a supporter of basso

 

[Mellow Velo]

Renshaw's over reaction was, nevertheless a reaction, not an instigation.

I think the race judges have just condemned Saturday's stage and possibly the Bordeaux stage (if it remains hot as forecast) to suffer the same, slow lingering death as we witnessed, yesterday.
For I don't see Columbia will be willing to tow the peloton, just to run out of train when it counts.

Even more, extremely dire, dull days ahead is the net result.

 

[hrotha]

Renshaw's over reaction was, nevertheless a reaction, not an instigation.

I think the race judges have just condemned Saturday's stage and possibly the Bordeaux stage (if it remains hot as forecast) to suffer the same, slow lingering death as we witnessed, yesterday.
For I don't see Columbia will be willing to tow the peloton, just to run out of train when it counts.

Even more, extremely dire, dull days ahead is the net result.

Maybe, but you should blame Renshaw for that, not the judges.