Tirreno-Adriatico stage 7: Civitanova Marche - San Benedetto del Tronto 164km

[flicker]

You sure he's new to bunch sprinting? I watched it just now for the first time and I have to say he did an experienced looking job of being menacing without actually physically impeding anybody (which is what gets you relagated).

Anis all bunch sprints are menacing. I would call Farrar a sissy but watching women sprint is also menacing. Farrar could take up lets say....curling.

 

[maltiv]

You sure he's new to bunch sprinting? I watched it just now for the first time and I have to say he did an experienced looking job of being menacing without actually physically impeding anybody (which is what gets you relagated).

He has said before that he's really afraid of bunch sprints. Earlier in his career he refused to do them, although he was an excellent sprinter, simply because he was afraid of the speed and the risks. I doubt a guy like that would purposely try to block people in the sprint. He has however always went a bit back and forth while sprinting for some reason, even when no one are close such as in this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THe8OhrxWL4

Perhaps he has this bad habit from all the small group sprints he has done where he is trying to get riders out of his slipstream. Anyway, he should definitely stop doing it, but I'm sure it's not on purpose.

 

[ingsve]

You sure he's new to bunch sprinting? I watched it just now for the first time and I have to say he did an experienced looking job of being menacing without actually physically impeding anybody (which is what gets you relagated).

Well, he's gotten more and more training in it since the second half of last year
but he has stated in the past that he doesn't feel comfortable in the big bunch sprints. While he has gotten more chances in bunch sprints it's mainly been in slightly smaller races that are less menacing so I thnk it's possible that he's still not 100% comfortable in the faster sprints where most top sprinters are present.

If he did give the illusion of being a experienced grizzled sprinter then that is simply aa coincidence rather than true experience.

 

[Mellow Velo]

You sure he's new to bunch sprinting? I watched it just now for the first time and I have to say he did an experienced looking job of being menacing without actually physically impeding anybody (which is what gets you relagated).

I agree.
Happens more often than not. Closing the door a little, without slamming it in the guy's faces, is an art. EBH did a good job, although you wouldn't think so, around here.

Farrar has often been bullied out of his position in the train. He's obviously far to clever to be a sprinter.


Theo Bos v Darryl Impey? I can't help but smile at these homeboy's myopia.

 

[Hugh Januss]

I agree.
Happens more often than not. Closing the door a little, without slamming it in the guy's faces, is an art. EBH did a good job, although you wouldn't think so, around here.

Farrar has often been bullied out of his position in the train. He's obviously far to clever to be a sprinter.


Theo Bos v Darryl Impey? I can't help but smile at these homeboy's myopia.

Clever as in graced with an adequate sense of self preservation?

 

[tgsgirl]

...and I have to say he did an experienced looking job of being menacing without actually physically impeding anybody (which is what gets you relagated).

Actually, the rules never mention anything about physically impeding anybody, if I recall correctly from Thor vs. Cav last year (my computer is currently refusing to open the UCI rulebook). It's pretty vague, and simply says you can't stray from the line you pick when you start sprinting. Which is what EBH did, imho.

 

[theyoungest]

I can't help but smile at these homeboy's myopia.

I was reminded of the Theo Bos discussion, where the argument that "he's just not like that" was also used. It ultimately turned out to be void, because who knows what he's really like?

Has nothing to do with homeboy blindness, thank you very much. Is condescension your default attitude, by the way?

 

[ingsve]

I was reminded of the Theo Bos discussion, where the argument that "he's just not like that" was also used. It ultimately turned out to be void, because who knows what he's really like?

Well, we can only go by the information we have and try to do the best we can. Maybe EBH really is a sneaky bast*rd but from all I've seen and heard so far there is nothing to indicate that and until proven otherwise that's the only information available to make any guesses by. If it instead was McEwen who sprinted irregularly then it would be an open and shut case because everyone knows Robbie is a dirty sprinter when he's in that mood.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Is condescension your default attitude, by the way?

Sometimes.....

 

[tgsgirl]

Maybe EBH really is a sneaky bast*rd but from all I've seen and heard so far there is nothing to indicate that and until proven otherwise that's the only information available to make any guesses by..

I fail to see how EBH's character has anything to do with it. It doesn't matter if he meant to impede anyone else, just whether or not he did impede them.

 

[krebs303]

I watched it both from motorcycle and from coptor shots. Looked like a clean acceleration by sky cervello liquidgas. I do not see anything dirty in the sprint.

I've watched it a few times and see nothing wrong. but like conti I have a lot to learn. by the way what happened to Cav did he touch wheels or did his front wheel come apart or both. really hard to tell from video

Tirreno-Adriatico 2010 - Stage 7 - Final kilometers (w/ crash Cavendish)

 

[Hugh Januss]

Actually, the rules never mention anything about physically impeding anybody, if I recall correctly from Thor vs. Cav last year (my computer is currently refusing to open the UCI rulebook). It's pretty vague, and simply says you can't stray from the line you pick when you start sprinting. Which is what EBH did, imho.

It's the one part of bike racing that is a bit like figure skating. Until you are the front man you can do a lot in the guise of avoiding or overtaking other riders. Once you hit the front the line thing comes into play, but if you came off the wheel of your leadout on the left and are say 5 feet from the left hand barriers and someone is coming up on that side, you can continue to ride at that slight right to left bias that moved you off the wheel as long as you don't impede the other rider. If he checks his speed a little because he sees you coming then you've won. If he holds his line and puts his shoulder into your hip or ribs, then it's up to the judges to decide who (if anyone) impeded the other. Often it's just considered incidental contact.
If you cross the line leaning on each other with your bikes at a 45 degree angle to the vertical then you are Stuey O'Grady and Robbie McEwen.

 

[tgsgirl]

If you cross the line leaning on each other with your bikes at a 45 degree angle to the vertical then you are Stuey O'Grady and Robbie McEwen.

And if you just aim your wheel at the other's guy shin and then whine like well, Leif Hoste, when you lose you're Graeme Brown. I know.
I'm not saying EBH definitely should've been DQed. But the way I see it he did stray from his line enough so that, had he been disqualified, I would've understood.

 

[Hugh Januss]

And if you just aim your wheel at the other's guy shin and then whine like well, Leif Hoste, when you lose you're Graeme Brown. I know.
I'm not saying EBH definitely should've been DQed. But the way I see it he did stray from his line enough so that, had he been disqualified, I would've understood.

He did kind of make one extra right turn to discourage Petacchi before the line came up.

 

[hektoren]

Actually, the rules never mention anything about physically impeding anybody, if I recall correctly from Thor vs. Cav last year (my computer is currently refusing to open the UCI rulebook). It's pretty vague, and simply says you can't stray from the line you pick when you start sprinting. Which is what EBH did, imho.

The UCI-rules stipulates that: "2.3.036 Riders shall be strictly forbidden to deviate from the lane they selected when launching into the
sprint and, in so doing, endangering others."
The important bit here is whether EBH's trajectory endangered others post launching his sprint. Having seen the heli-footage over and over again, I'd be hard pressed to say that a dangerous situation arose.

 

[ingsve]

I fail to see how EBH's character has anything to do with it. It doesn't matter if he meant to impede anyone else, just whether or not he did impede them.

That's not how I interpret your previous comment:

Shame, cause I don't think EBH needs Brown's if-I'm-the-last-one-standing-I-automatically-win tactics

You're talking about it potentially being a tactic which would mean that it would definately be about character and not just about wether he actually impeded anyone.

 

[tgsgirl]

You're talking about it potentially being a tactic which would mean that it would definately be about character and not just about wether he actually impeded anyone.

Al right, perhaps I should've been more clear. I don't think he intentionally impeded anyone, I don't think he's a bad character and the choice of the word 'tactic' perhaps wasn't too wise. Maybe it would've been better to say he doesn't need GB's style of sprinting, as he's got buckets of talent. English isn't my native language, for the record.

Tom Steels was commentating for Sporza, and he mentioned EBH did something similar in Eneco last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9zeJ3D3udg

 

[Anonymous]

The UCI-rules stipulates that: "2.3.036 Riders shall be strictly forbidden to deviate from the lane they selected when launching into the
sprint and, in so doing, endangering others."
The important bit here is whether EBH's trajectory endangered others post launching his sprint. Having seen the heli-footage over and over again, I'd be hard pressed to say that a dangerous situation arose.

Because Farrar let off of the gas...because he was impeded. He got pinched. It wasn't the worst example I have ever seen, but I will say that EBH would most likely not have won the sprint without that move to the left. Say what you want, but Petacchi and Farrar were winding it up and EBH shut it down just enough with that move to win. His legs didn't win the sprint IMO, his line did.

 

[Old School]

Dirty

EBH definately didn't keep a straight line...that was improper sprinting...

 

[ingsve]

Al right, perhaps I should've been more clear. I don't think he intentionally impeded anyone, I don't think he's a bad character and the choice of the word 'tactic' perhaps wasn't too wise. Maybe it would've been better to say he doesn't need GB's style of sprinting, as he's got buckets of talent. English isn't my native language, for the record.

Tom Steels was commentating for Sporza, and he mentioned EBH did something similar in Eneco last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9zeJ3D3udg

Ya, I agree that his bunch sprinting needs improving. To me it seems most likely to be due to his lack of experience in bunch sprinting. Perhaps maltiv is onto something in speculating that it's a bad habit he's picked up from small group sprinting or maybe he simply isn't concentrating enough on his line.

 

[issoisso]

Someone at Sky really needs to stamp that bad habit out of him. That was very dangerous. Swerving like that tends to cause nasty, nasty crashes.

What were the commisaires doing? Twiddling thumbs and watching X Factor?

 

[issoisso]

Someone at Sky really needs to stamp that bad habit out of him. That was very dangerous. Swerving like that tends to cause nasty, nasty crashes.

What were the comissaires doing? Twiddling thumbs and watching X Factor?

 

[M Sport]

I've watched it a few times and see nothing wrong. but like conti I have a lot to learn.

Nothing wrong with that sprint, you're learning.

 

[usedtobefast]

i have seen the sprint. it is no big deal.EBH was really strong.
did anyone find out what happened with Cav's front wheel? the hub
was gone. he was not happy, nor would i be.

 

[flicker]

dudes check out the coptor shots. EBH was in an acceleration mode. I do not know if petacchi was hitting his brakes.