The Women's Road Racing Thread 2016

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

Would Van der Breggen be expected to win in a two-up sprint vs Armitstead, or does she need to arrive solo?

You can count the number of people I would expect Anna van der Breggen to beat in a sprint on one hand. She's been in an informal battle for the last few years with Claudia Lichtenberg about who is the worst in a sprint from a group.

Well we saw three today

Kudos, though Abbott was one of the riders on that hand even if she'd been fresh. ELB a candidate too. Normally I would have backed Johansson to beat her 100 times out of 100, but she was also the weakest time triallist of the three chasers so probably had to go deeper to earn the right to sprint for the win.

 

[Orbit501]

I felt a bit sick seeing Van Vleuten crash as it looked horrendous.

Hoping & praying that she's ok.

Exciting race aside from that.

 

[TMP402]

Just, poor Emma.

What were the odds on her coming 2nd?

 

[Ramira]

Re: Re:

Is that the most heartbreaking race you will ever watch ever?

I don't know if it's the most heartbreaking race ever, but it's up there, just brutal.

Really sickening. An amazing advert for the sport, a winner I quite like but still completely sickening.

Not sure it's still an advert for the sport. Far far to many crashes over the last few days. It was exciting racing, but a horrid course, and we really don't need "fans" who think crashes are exciting and cheer when they happen.

 

[Arnout]

Don't understand all the fuss about the descent. Clearly most riders managed not to crash - simple matter of physics.

 

[Ramira]

Van Vleuten is conscious, but in shock. That's probably the best we could hope for right now. Just have to hope for more good news in the future.

 

[Melo]

NOS saying that Van Vleuten is ok.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re:

Just, poor Emma.

What were the odds on her coming 2nd?

You wouldn't have got good odds. She's been 2nd or 3rd in pro races over 180 times in her career.

 

[Gloin22]

Re:

Don't understand all the fuss about the descent. Clearly most riders managed not to crash - simple matter of physics.

Indeed, she panicked and braked ridiculously hard. Can't blame the course when you do that.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

Don't understand all the fuss about the descent. Clearly most riders managed not to crash - simple matter of physics.

Both men's and women's races were determined by leaders crashing on the descent. That's not normal and not desirable.

 

[Scarponi]

Re: Re:

Don't understand all the fuss about the descent. Clearly most riders managed not to crash - simple matter of physics.

Indeed, she panicked and braked ridiculously hard. Can't blame the course when you do that.

You can descend "safely" or be a hero and try to win on descents like Nibali. Could happen anywhere

 

[Ramira]

Re: Re:

Don't understand all the fuss about the descent. Clearly most riders managed not to crash - simple matter of physics.

Indeed, she panicked and braked ridiculously hard. Can't blame the course when you do that.

Except that Nibali and Henao also crashed, as did Geraint Thomas, and Porte, and many many others. There's been far to many crashes over two races.

You can't take each crash in isolation, together it shows the descent is just to dangerous.

Heck van Avermaet admitted he went very careful on the descent, imagine if there had been only 1 or 2 riders in front from the start, they might have pushed hard for a podium, and there could have been even more crashes.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

KNWU tweet "Van Vleuten blijkt oké te zijn.". Karl Vannieuwkerke tweets that she's conscious but in shock.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re: Re:

Don't understand all the fuss about the descent. Clearly most riders managed not to crash - simple matter of physics.

Both men's and women's races were determined by leaders crashing on the descent. That's not normal and not desirable.

Those leaders risked it, and took one risk too many. That's sport

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

I thought seeing Majkas face last night was brutal but how do you get back on the bike this year being Abbot or Majka? So so so heartbreaking

Majka got a medal

More hearth breaking for Nibali, Henao & Van Vleuten...in the lead and crashing... plus injured ...that is heart breaking

 

[deValtos]

The thing about the descent is the gutters on each side which means there is no chance of correcting a mistake. On nearly every other descent you can at least try and rescue a bad corner or even try to control a fall. But here, if you screw up, you're in trouble.

 

[Frosty]

The thing about the descent is the gutters on each side which means there is no chance of correcting a mistake. On nearly every other descent you can at least try and rescue a bad corner or even try to control a fall. But here, if you screw up, you're in trouble.

Chris Boardman was saying that on the BBC - saying that it was dangerous rather than technical due to the problems if you went a bit wrong. Actually seemed quite angry.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Really happy with this podium, but feel so bad for Van Vleuten and Abbott. So relieved to hear Van Vleuten is conscious.

 

[Amsterhammer]

In an ambulance, conscious, but with serious injuries. Overjoyed to hear that! I'm sure I wasn't the only one who wondered if she had broken her neck.

 

[HelloDolly]

Re: Re:

Don't understand all the fuss about the descent. Clearly most riders managed not to crash - simple matter of physics.

Both men's and women's races were determined by leaders crashing on the descent. That's not normal and not desirable.

Those leaders risked it, and took one risk too many. That's sport

All top sport people are very competitive ...that is their nature ...that is why it is beholding on officials to make sure a course is safe to mitigate their natural tendencies yo do what they can to win ....that is what governing bodies are for

That descent was too dangerous ...just look at the causalties..

Let me put it this way ....would you like your son/daughter/husband/wife racing on it for a medal

 

[Gigs_98]

I can't believe exactly the same thing happened again. One or two riders in the leading group drop another rider in the leading group but the faster descender/s crash and the slower descender is suddenly in front alone just to get caught again shortly before the finish. Majka was just lucky there were only 2 riders catching him so he still got a medal.

 

[Jonhard]

Christ, it's busy in here

Massive heartbreak for Mara, but awesome race and great podium.

Annemiek should have won though.

 

[Arnout]

Re: Re:

Don't understand all the fuss about the descent. Clearly most riders managed not to crash - simple matter of physics.

Both men's and women's races were determined by leaders crashing on the descent. That's not normal and not desirable.

Well generally we don't mind races being decided on the downhill section. Crashing is an extension of going too fast, all crashes happened of own free will, by going faster than the course allowed. I've descended many a mountain without crashing. I would've crashed had I had no brakes - but I did have.

Only issue with this descent may have been the steep pavement, but then the road surface was more consistent than it is on average.

 

[happychappy]

Re:

Don't understand all the fuss about the descent. Clearly most riders managed not to crash - simple matter of physics.

As usual it's the lames like this who have never done anything outside of posting on internet forums talking ***.

 

[hfer07]

Great race!!! Great win by Van der Breggen - another miss for Johhansson- feel for Abbot- sooo close, yet the way she was peddling the last 3k meant she was empty.

great race indeed