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Video: Joaquim Rodriguez posts footage of spectacular crash - but it's not him

Retired pro's social media post sparks alarm among followers - but there are clues all is not as it seems...

When you're posting footage of a spectacular crash to social media, it's probably not a bad idea to clarify whether or not you were the person riding, so as not to alarm your friends and followers.

Yesterday, retired pro Joaquim Rodriguez posted a video, apparently shot by a chest camera,  to Twitter and Instagram of a rider losing control on a descent and being thrown over a barrier.

In the text accompanying the video, Rodriquez says: "Behaviour of a cyclist when you crash! First, I'm fine, Second: How is my bike? Third: Sort out the handlebars and carry on."

Many people in the comments sent their best wishes to Rodriguez, nicknamed Purito, or remarked that he'd had a lucky escape.

Except, it isn't Rodriguez. For one thing, that doesn't look like Andorra, where he lives, in winter (granted, he could be elsewhere). Secondly, the two riders who stop to check on the condition of the person who has crashed are dressed for a triathlon, and have race numbers. Third, there's also a race number on the bike that crashed, and the set-up in terms of cabling, stem height, handlebars etc isn't what you'd expect from a pro.

Finally, the biggest clue of all is the bike itself - a Race Lite, formerly made by Merida, but at the opposite end of the Taiwanese company's range from the Scultura that Rodriguez should have been racing this season until he reconsidered his plans and confirmed his retirement. He has instead taken on a backroom role with the UCI WorldTour outift.

 

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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19 comments

Avatar
Leviathan | 7 years ago
2 likes

Looks like he wasn't riding to condition  -  some muppet in the comments who thinks he is class.

Hope he was wearing a helmet  -  some muppet looking for a flame war.

He disappeared faster than Frank Schleck's career  -  some muppet who thinks he is funny.

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Carton | 7 years ago
0 likes

Nice sleuthing. A three-time World Tour #1 on a £1k bike does seem rather unlikely.

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Natrix | 7 years ago
0 likes

Good job he was wearing a helmet

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Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
1 like

Disc brakes are dangerous.

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DaSy | 7 years ago
1 like

As ColT said, what possesed the man to descend on the hoods. 

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arfa | 7 years ago
1 like

I recall some advice from Bernie Eisel regarding hairpins. The ones you really want to worry about are the ones with crash barriers on them as they're typically protecting steep drops. If you have to hit them, slide into them as you want to avoid going over them as the video shows

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steviemarco | 7 years ago
0 likes

Would Purito really have his bike computer place where it is on the handlebars?

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therevokid | 7 years ago
1 like

takes the undergrowth out of the helmet, mounts up and rides off - legend  1

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Peowpeowpeowlasers | 7 years ago
0 likes

Straight back on, what a champ!

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ColT | 7 years ago
5 likes

Good advert for not descending on the hoods, if you ask me. 

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Altimis replied to ColT | 7 years ago
1 like

Looks like he just brake too late and been over speed then got understeered from hard brake at last seconds

Lucky him though he not get fatal, you could end up in ambulance on the way to hospital that way . . .

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cyclisto replied to ColT | 7 years ago
0 likes
ColT wrote:

Good advert for not descending on the hoods, if you ask me. 

Why??

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ColT replied to cyclisto | 7 years ago
2 likes
cyclisto wrote:
ColT wrote:

Good advert for not descending on the hoods, if you ask me. 

Why??

Seriously? 

I thought it was fairly common knowledge (and common sense) that descending on the drops give far better control. Being on the hoods increases the risk of hands slipping off...

In this case, I'm guessing that the rider could have braked more efficiently.  I could be wrong, of course, in which case, forgive me for wasting your time.  1

Just Gooooooogled it - plenty of debate, but this explains "why?" (for me):

"Gripping the drops on descents keeps your hands closer to the brakes so that you can easily control your speed and apply maximum braking power to stop in a hurry if needed. It ensures that your hands won't come off the bars if you hit a bump. It lowers your center of gravity for better cornering. And, it makes you more aerodynamic so that you are less buffeted by the increased wind at speed, and can go faster if you want to, too (just gently apply the brakes if you don't)."

Col

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to ColT | 7 years ago
2 likes
ColT wrote:
cyclisto wrote:
ColT wrote:

Good advert for not descending on the hoods, if you ask me. 

Why??

Seriously? 

I thought it was fairly common knowledge (and common sense) that descending on the drops give far better control. Being on the hoods increases the risk of hands slipping off...

In this case, I'm guessing that the rider could have braked more efficiently.  I could be wrong, of course, in which case, forgive me for wasting your time.  1

Just Gooooooogled it - plenty of debate, but this explains "why?" (for me):

"Gripping the drops on descents keeps your hands closer to the brakes so that you can easily control your speed and apply maximum braking power to stop in a hurry if needed. It ensures that your hands won't come off the bars if you hit a bump. It lowers your center of gravity for better cornering. And, it makes you more aerodynamic so that you are less buffeted by the increased wind at speed, and can go faster if you want to, too (just gently apply the brakes if you don't)."

Col

also lowers weight onto the front for grip, hands are lower on the levers for better feel and modulation, hence less likely to lock up and fly over the bars

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whobiggs replied to beezus fufoon | 7 years ago
0 likes

[/quote]

also lowers weight onto the front for grip, hands are lower on the levers for better feel and modulation, hence less likely to lock up and fly over the bars

[/quote]

I would add it depends on where you are descending if it's very steep your arse will already be high and thus more likely to go over the top. Also wind resinstance can be your friend as well as your enemy meaning less braking needed! Horses for courses. One rule for every situation? 

 

I would hope my mates were a little more concerned than they were, oh and don't thump the handlebar sideways when riding. That way leads to ouch! 

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to whobiggs | 7 years ago
0 likes
whobiggs wrote:
Quote:

also lowers weight onto the front for grip, hands are lower on the levers for better feel and modulation, hence less likely to lock up and fly over the bars

I would add it depends on where you are descending if it's very steep your arse will already be high and thus more likely to go over the top. Also wind resinstance can be your friend as well as your enemy meaning less braking needed! Horses for courses. One rule for every situation? 

 

I would hope my mates were a little more concerned than they were, oh and don't thump the handlebar sideways when riding. That way leads to ouch! 

surely getting lower allows you to push your rear end back quite far - you can even lay your tummy flat on the saddle, but of course, one must be wary of snagging one's tackle between the rear tyre and brake, that will sting a little  1

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Schweiz | 7 years ago
0 likes

Joaquim Purito Rodrigeuz is a lucky bike rider! Crash like this can be extremely fatal. Stay safe team road.cc

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bendertherobot replied to Schweiz | 7 years ago
0 likes
Schweiz wrote:

Joaquim Purito Rodrigeuz is a lucky bike rider! Crash like this can be extremely fatal. Stay safe team road.cc

Why is he lucky?

Avatar
Schweiz replied to bendertherobot | 7 years ago
0 likes
bendertherobot wrote:
Schweiz wrote:

Joaquim Purito Rodrigeuz is a lucky bike rider! Crash like this can be extremely fatal. Stay safe team road.cc

Why is he lucky?

 

ROFLing. He is having lady luck for a friend if he can ride away after THAT CRASH!

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