Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta 2025 ( February 19 - February 23)

[E_F_]

Fwiw Van Aert said that he realized he was on the wrong side as soon as he came out of the roundabout and stopped riding with about 400 metres to go

That's completely insane. He should get a significant ban for knowingly endangering himself, other riders, and the public. And also have his head examined.

 

[topcat]

I admire the riders that kept racing even though it was clear they were on the wrong side and will be sent home in shame. It shows pure grinta.

 

[Red Rick]

Fwiw Van Aert said that he realized he was on the wrong side as soon as he came out of the roundabout and stopped riding with about 400 metres to go. Like I said, how a bunch of people sprinted for the line that wasn't there is beyond me.

Riders are conditioned to think safety isn't their responsibility.

 

[Red Rick]

How it was done with the same finish last year:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892261714592243857

View: https://x.com/Elias_TVL/status/1892261714592243857

"They have this finish every year, it's even less our fault we didn't know the correct route"

 

[Unchained]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892261374215991660

I will take the win if Ganna doesn't want it!!

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I don't even know if it was that much better based on that pic, peloton was already reduced (crash?) and already on the right side of the road so easier.

It wasn't optimal in 2024 either, but clearly a lot better than whatever they were doing here.

 

[Samamba]

I don't really get why they don't give the win to Ganna? Not his fault that others go into the wrong direction. Sure it looks dumb, but he's first over the line.

 

[E_F_]

Riders are conditioned to think safety isn't their responsibility.

100% Really the riders should be institutionalized and all team staffers tried at the Hague.

 

[Samamba]

So Meeus literally says he knew when there were people shooting and making gestures to slow down but he still sprinted? Yeah ok.

 

[Red Rick]

So Meeus literally says he knew when there were people shooting and making gestures to slow down but he still sprinted? Yeah ok.

If that's not a straight red card then what is?

 

[Netserk]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1892266443779055768

View: https://x.com/VoltAlgarve/status/1892266443779055768


By annulling the stage, they also take the bonus seconds away from the breakaway riders (and the KOM points they scored)?

 

[Mayomaniac]

So Meeus literally says he knew when there were people shooting and making gestures to slow down but he still sprinted? Yeah ok.

Those freaking mouthbreathers should take some responsability, FFS!

 

[titan31]

Should get stage results and just annul the time

 

[Unchained]

Riders are conditioned to think safety isn't their responsibility.

Most of the comments posted are correct, including some level of shame or national embarrassment because it happened. This isn't like a Far Side comic were something is obviously wrong!!H

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/137500594845511274/

View: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/137500594845511274/

The officiating crew, especially the chief judge need to take full responsibility!! If it were just a couple of riders that misunderstood course and instructions.. Cool..but in this example widespread misunderstanding at a minimum. In many road races and crits there is a pull out area just shy of finish so motos, caravan and neutral support turn out so as not to cross the finish line.. On mountain stages it's often just a few meters from the finish, but also often something to mark the finish like a banner or big promotional ring, at our races it's inflated!! RedBull, Powerade, Gatorade, ect.. If this many riders don't understand the decision that they were supposed to make a few meters from the line at 60+ k an hour, it's the person's fault giving the instructions not the majority who didn't understand them.
The officials should freeze finish order, ask promoter if they agree to carry over prizes for next stage. Choose not to award a win or finishing order, no time bonuses. Things contested earlier like KOM and intermediates still stand, unless someone protests, nobody will. Being disqualified for cutting or deviation is also about intent.. Nobody was trying to cheat.

 

[theyoungest]

That's completely insane. He should get a significant ban for knowingly endangering himself, other riders, and the public. And also have his head examined.

If you look at the footage, you see that he's indicating to the other riders to watch out and slow down. What else is he supposed to do?

 

[Ilmaestro99]

So Meeus literally says he knew when there were people shooting and making gestures to slow down but he still sprinted? Yeah ok.

Pure grinta

 

[Devil's Elbow]

So Meeus literally says he knew when there were people shooting and making gestures to slow down but he still sprinted? Yeah ok.

That really does deserve a suspension for deliberately endangering spectators/everyone else on that side of the road.

 

[Brullnux]

Initial mistake obviously by the organisers, road was indicated very poorly. I think blaming riders is just done in bad faith,
really. That said, still sprinting was stupid and exacerbated an already dangerous situation.

Ganna should win, though. Need those Ineos Ws to make Radcliffe feel like he's doing a good job

 

[Brullnux]

That's completely insane. He should get a significant ban for knowingly endangering himself, other riders, and the public. And also have his head examined.

Are you okay?

 

[Didinho]

Just saw Van Aert’s interview. They have some sort of half-TT-helmet now for normal stages. Like the EF one but with the point in the back.

 

[E_F_]

If you look at the footage, [deleted content]] you see that he's indicating to the other riders to watch out and slow down. What else is he supposed to do?

I understood the comment to mean that WvA knowingly sprinted within the deviation for several hundred kilometres.

edit: note how what I wrote was very strange, because it was very wrong.

 

[E_F_]

Are you okay?

Did I respond to the wrong comment or something?

edit: Ah lmao I realize the confusion I think. If Wout meant that he stopped sprinting as soon as he knew something was wrong, then I'm very happy to hear it. Good for him.

 

[Red Rick]

Initial mistake obviously by the organisers, road was indicated very poorly. I think blaming riders is just done in bad faith,

Because why?

1. It is signaled, you can see it in the replay
2. They have the same finish every year
3. They have a road book
4. Riders just blindly follow the motor around the moment the motor will generally leave the parcours in every single finish


You can debate the quality of signaling, but if you instantly assume anything other than your own reason is arguing in bad faith, guess what that's called.

It's also not like there's no general trend of these debates always blaming organiser and always absolving riders just because riders are the idols and organisers/UCI are always the boogieman.

 

[RedheadDane]

I understood the comment to mean that WvA knowingly sprinted within the deviation for several hundred kilometres.

Long stage...

 

[Sciatic]

How does anyone take the right road if there's no signaling.

I think only chance was if the lead guy was aware of which was the correct side. Everyone after that going for the sprint is in oxygen debt and just following wheels, pretty hard to change course then.