Pretty good from Ballerini as well. Pedersen strong, it looked like Ackermann was a bit confused for a second, before he figured out Pedersen was going to sprint.
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In case he does not notice and answer your question himself, I believe Armchair's remark had other meaning than this...You find it in poor taste to be pleased with the world champion's first WorldTour win because of what happened yesterday?
Tomorrow's stage. I smell a solo attempt coming up.
De Gendt?
Your ban idea is heavy handed in light of the practice being widespread. It's arguable that any sprinter that chooses to pass on the barrier side of a lead sprinter is very, very aware that the gap can narrow quickly. Again, they all know the risks that are learned in the amateur ranks on up. Only riders that have a sprinter's mindset go into this territory in the first place. If the UCI wants to redefine the rules; so be it.Downhill sprints, barriers from the 90ties, deadly road furniture. How many more casualties does this race need until the call it off? The worst ProTour race year after year, and at this point the lame race design and subpar quality of the TV coverage don't deserve mentioning anymore even with what is happening there.
Groenewegen should be punished, at first I thought ban him for life but after reviewing the footage multiple times I think a 2-year ban and a hefty fine (1-year salary) should do.
I was thinking about Evenepoel, who said if he could take a win, he'd dedicate it to Lambrecht, but after yesterday he's bound to be even more eager to pound. It would be very typical of him. This stage seems perfect for it.De Gendt?
In case he does not notice and answer your question himself, I believe Armchair's remark had other meaning than this...
I was thinking about Evenepoel, who said if he could take a win, he'd dedicate it to Lambrecht, but after yesterday he's bound to be even more eager to pound. It would be very typical of him. This stage seems perfect for it.
I read the whole topic and read some lines I really don't grasp.
What happened, by the look of it, and I race myself, is that FJ was fully using DG's draft. DG launched and immediately looked down / under his shoulder and saw FJ coming left. DG decided to slowly close the door and keep closing it. You can close a door if that door wasn't open in the first place. In this case, there was plenty of legroom until the crash and DG deliberately kept closing.
If some on here argue that there have been worse sprints by other riders, but I have yet to find one where the rider is so deliberately trying to block a rider up until the point of crashing, taking into account the ridiculous high speed that really didn't leave any margin for error.
There are some sprints that are a tiny bit worse as in 'trying to cause a rider to crash' (I refer to Cavendish vs. Veelers), but none with the combination of deliberate dangerous action at life-threatening speeds.
I remember all kinds of irregular sprints, but I really found none that was so bad. Even Abdoujaparov looks like an angel as he was mostly swerving in the middle of the road. Cavendish was maybe the worst of the last 20 years if you combine what he did on the track with his sprints against Haussler and Veelers. Stating that throwing a bidon by Steels was worse than DG is ridiculous. That is an act out of frustration and nowhere as dangerous as pushing a rider in the barriers. And stating that Demare swerved in Milano-Torino is ridiculous as well. There was no one blocked and that sprint was perfectly fine. Last, one commenter here suggested that if FJ choose the other side, he would be fine... Let that sink in. If FJ choose the right, he reckons DG would have swarved to the left. Go figure. That commenter probably never raced a day in his life.
I'm not going to speak about what should be done and who should be punished. It actually isn't any of my business. I only hope FJ will still be able to eat, smell, see and think normally, and if miracles happen, this young and prodigious kid can one day race a bike again, hopefully on the same level as before.
No, my guess would be on the local laps. But who knows, maybe some preparations will be made earlier on the climb. And i could also be completely wrong obviously.you think from 40kms out (last major bump)? or even further?
Oh please. I agree that his manoeuvre was reckless and inappropriate and that he caused the crash, but let’s not get carried away. I remember three sprint incidents that were similar or worse, but with lesser bodily injury.Groenewegen should be given a 4 year ban. Same as a doping infraction. He cheated and multiple people have been seriously hurt by his actions
De Gendt AND Evenepoel. Wouldn’t that be something?I was thinking about Evenepoel, who said if he could take a win, he'd dedicate it to Lambrecht, but after yesterday he's bound to be even more eager to pound. It would be very typical of him. This stage seems perfect for it.
This never happened.Sagan pushing Cavendish into the barriers in the TdF (again, very similar to DG)
Do you or any other have the details of that little hill in the final lap? Looks like a couple of kms at 5%.No, my guess would be on the local laps. But who knows, maybe some preparations will be made earlier on the climb. And i could also be completely wrong obviously.
2017. It’s almost a blueprint, but the gap for Cavendish was smaller.
Throwing a bottle worse than smashing someone into the barriers at 80 km/h. Riiiight.
Your ban idea is heavy handed in light of the practice being widespread. It's arguable that any sprinter that chooses to pass on the barrier side of a lead sprinter is very, very aware that the gap can narrow quickly. Again, they all know the risks that are learned in the amateur ranks on up. Only riders that have a sprinter's mindset go into this territory in the first place. If the UCI wants to redefine the rules; so be it.
The real culprit is a poorly staged finish zone. The UCI must own it and pay up.
Do you or any other have the details of that little hill in the final lap? Looks like a couple of kms at 5%.
Any news on Jacobsen? Hope he is out of coma and OK!
It's supposedly 2k and appears to be gaining 100 meters in altitude, so that would indeed be 5%.Do you or any other have the details of that little hill in the final lap? Looks like a couple of kms at 5%.