OK, I know it's childish to gloat, but honestly, who wouldn't?
In Paris-Nice, stage 7, Levi Leipheimer (sitting third in GC) took a tumble on a gravelly corner when his rain jersey got tangled up with his front wheel. Oops - these things happen. He had to swap bikes, and the new bike was not set up correctly for him, which didn't help him get back onto the peloton. Then he took another tumble - not his fault - and Movistar, hearing about this, put the hammer down and surged away, making it harder and harder for Levi to catch them. On the wrong bike, he was clearly struggling to keep up with his team, most of whom were with him, pulling him back to the peloton. But they were getting there.
Then there was another crash, into a parked motorcycle that was - to be fair - doing his job: he'd stopped on the apex of a corner to protect a Lampre rider who had just that moment fallen off right there. Unfortunately, although most of the Omega QS riders got round the obstacle, one of them, Dries Devenyns, couldn't avoid running up the back of the motorcycle, (doing a painful-looking face-plant as he did so) closely followed by Levi. Aagh! Blood!
Movistar were still pulling like a train, and this third crash meant that most of the Omega team came in over 9 minutes down on the main peloton.
Now, this wasn't bad sportsmanship: Levi was not in the yellow jersey, he was not leading the GC, Movistar were not obliged to slow down for him - but it was a pretty mean thing to do, and there was a bit of hissing amongst the peloton. And on the sofa, from LLB and I. Neither of us are particular fans of Levi or or Omega, but it was a bit mean.
Then in stage two of Catalunya, Velverde of Movistar crashed, and guess who went to the front and swept the peloton away? Yup, Omega.
Go, boys!
Totally agree! I too don't really care about Levi or his team, but they had every right to start pulling once Valverde crashed.
ReplyDeleteYesterday's stage was just crazy. I think it took way too long for the organisers to do something, and then all of a sudden they decided to put the finish in the next 10 K!
Steven Kruijswijk (who was in de breakaway) told Dutch press afterwards he didn't even know about it..
It really is too bad that Jakob broke his scaphoid bone and Julien Dean his leg. I don't blame any of the riders to abandon the race, the parcours was not safe and hypothermia sets on pretty quick in such circumstances.
Maybe if they'd known sooner about the stage being shortened, not so many would have abandoned.
On a funnier note: the car Andy and Fränk raced around with in Eindhoven last summer is now in a museum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75-WHE5Yoy8
Inge
Jakob broke his scaphoid? Julien Dean his leg? *shocked face* I missed all that - horrors! LLB and I have only just watched stage 2, and of course stage 3 was cancelled due to snow - all we got on Eurosport was some footage of the snow and a brief explanation, then women's curling (*yawns*) for 2 hours.
ReplyDeleteI haven't caught up on the news yet, as I'm a busy with work, plus studying, plus extra work!
Inge, your link doesn't quite work - was it the Eindhover clip, or a clip of the museum?
Coug
When I saw a
It was a clip of the car being brought to the museum and the owner of the museum was genuinly shocked by how bruised up the car is. It's been used with more famous people to have fun with it. No signs of the scratching Andy and Fränk did on it though.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the studying!
Inge
Stage 3 did happen in fact. Jani Brackovich (sp?) won - but no GC points awarded. Amazing ride by Jani. Too bad there will be an * after his name!
ReplyDeleteMy son bumped into him in town once. Noticed this "kid" who looked around 11 or 12 yrs old in a full on official Astana kit and my son got curious...sure enough it was Jani.
Anyhow - kudo's to him for being the toughest guy in stage 3 while others bailed. And...I don't blame anyone for bailing. Conditions were just ridiculous.
I was talking with my son today and mentioned it seemed like the goals recently were to take out as many of the bigger contenders as possible for future races. Little diplomacy in the peloton anymore it seems.
Sad for Jakob and all the other's with breaks, bumps and such.
Is Andy going to finish (well - in a) a friggin race one of these days?
BE
This issue seems to always come up every season. Along with, should you pull away from the front when a contendor crashes or not...there is the case of should the peloton STOP for those who crashed.
ReplyDeleteYou get one group of teams complaining how the peloton should have stopped and waited for the riders who had crashed (RSNT is one of them, I might add. Was only yesterday they were complaning about "What is cycling coming to") and then you have the other group, who say that you keep riding. And to be honest, I'm with the latter group. I know crashes/falls are bad and in most instances they are not by your own doing, but imagine the peloton having to stop for EVERY crash that occur-Will we ever get to see a race finish?!?
But I am with you Coug and Inge, regarding the above issue, not stoping and riding on is one thing-but to deliberately go to the front and start PULLING, well it's selfish (and I'm talking about the actions of Movistar in the first instance)
Now people will say it's a race and there are tactics and so on and on, but to capitalise on someone when they are down-its ugly! So I guess if I use my own logic there, what Omega did was a bit uncalled for too...but I guess if you use the logic an eye for an eye, it fits! :P
Anyway...Ah as Inge has said poor Jakob has fractured his scaphoid :'( Dont know how long he'll be out. But he does the join the "Scaphoid fractured club" along with Jensi...seems the RSNT riders can't catch a break when it comes to scaphoids (no pun intended!)
HAHA BE, I doubt Andy will ever finish a race this season, except for the TDF of course! I already yelled at Andy over on my tumblr blog, so I wont get angry at him on here. All I can say is, someone tell him not to be afraid to get his paws wet-get out in the rain, the cold Andy, AND RACE!
He might think he has the form, but frankly without some races (and I mean races in which he gives 100% to win) under his belt, he can kiss this years TDF goodbye (Why have I become so unsure/untrusting of my Andy lately?!?...it has been that way since the "Untimely but imperative dental appointment") oh bother!
Anyway Coug, hope you've been well. Long time since I payed a visit here and I've babbled on for long enough now.
Hope Spring has sprung and the birds are chirping in good ol' England.
x
Nims
Hey Nims!
ReplyDeleteYou have summed it up beautifully: the peloton should not stop, no, but they should not deliberately attack in these situations.
As I understand it, pro cycling is about who is stongest on the day, not who is luckiest.
Hopefully, now that Omega have had revenge, this particular vendetta will die a death and they will all be friends again (!) in the peloton.
Luckily the year is still young, there is still time for Andypants to win a race or two: it's such a shame that to us, out here watching and cheering, wins are all-important: whereas to them, it's more important to adhere to the training schedule in order to work up to the TdF perfectly. *glum face*. There are times when I think I'd be happy to never see Andy win the TdF on the day, if it meant we could see him win half a dozen other races each year. it worked for Gilbert.....
But I suspect that Andy himself is getting a little worried by the lack of additions to his palmares, so he probably doesn't need us lot all shouting "Win something, you fool!" at him.
And for your information, yesterday pm I had my shorts on for the first time this year - but this morning (it's still very early) we have thick fog, heavy dew on the grass - not quite frost but nearly - and the air has a distinct nip in it. I will not be going out in shorts this morning!
Coug
If our darling OGL is wanting to alienate fans...he's doing an A+ job.
ReplyDeleteI also am not sure if this is a "plot". If everyone thinks Andy is racing poorly...they won't be as inclined to "mark him" at TdF.
I can see that tactically - but my question remains - can he do it? Often a rider will have a peak year and never revisit that form. 2010 may have been that for Andy. It remains to be seen. I just don't see "it" in him anymore. Sadly.
BE