131313 said:I think you're doing everything in your power to defend an action which (if true) is pretty indefensible, based on your own biases.
No, I'm just trying to bring the perspective of one who has been personally involved in an assault case that took place at a bike race. While most of you would see one "incident" and then later, a deliberate assault, my own past experience shows that cops and prosecutors generally have a very hard time separating the two incidents, and will usually consider this a case of two mutual combatants. Even the cop on RR's link is failing to see the full context. Context counts. Howe physically did something. Atkins was affected. Atkins complained. Howe told him to stick it and pointed to his Kenda buddies as intimidation. Atkins reacted.
I think that there is plenty of reasonable doubt here and the D.A. will not bother with this case.
Pros have a history of just "taking" virtual peloton real estate that they want. If the current occupant doesn't crash, he's just a wuss. If he does, he's a victim. I take issue with pros that just take the real estate because they're getting paid to be assertive for strategic positions. Another reason why I don't believe in "Pro/1/2". If you're really pros, then go be pros. If we're not good enough to BE pros, then we shouldn't be racing with you.