Tour de France Stage 1: Geraint Thomas takes stage and yellow jersey

Leviathan wrote:

No-one seems to be mentioning what a big advantage this gives Froome. He has taken mahoosive chunks of time out of his rivals on day one, and the only one ahead of him is his teammate G.

I think Porte would be a little disappointed with his time, although considering his tendency to have bad luck (and judging by his post stage interview) just keeping it rubber side up was enough for him on the day. 

Interesting how close most of the GC rider's times were (with the exception of the sky guys)

Bigtwin wrote:

Nasty:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnZXV6hbB68

 

Ow. That was a big hit

dottigirl wrote:

Was rain forecast? I do think there should have been more protection, but that course would've been totally different in dry conditions.

Accoring to the in-race commentary yesterday, it was forecast for at least a week beforhand.

ChrisB200SX wrote:

I have a rule I try to stick to when racing:

#1 Don't fall off.

Yes, they could have provided better crash protection, but it's the rider's fault for falling off. You take a risk, expect to pay the price. Maybe you wouldn't expect broken bones, but it's hard to do well in a race if you fall off.

I disagree, as speeds increase so should safety. The UCI are at fault, there should be minimum standards, to put so much effort into staging an event without appropriate safety is unacceptable.

ChrisB200SX wrote:

I have a rule I try to stick to when racing:

#1 Don't fall off.

Yes, they could have provided better crash protection, but it's the rider's fault for falling off. You take a risk, expect to pay the price. Maybe you wouldn't expect broken bones, but it's hard to do well in a race if you fall off.

And obviolusy therefore you should be punished by sustaining as severe a physical injury as possible, no matter how preventable, whist denying the public the change to see one of the top racers in action in the biggest event. 

Give me strength.

You could campain for spiked armco at Superbikes while you are at it - that'll teach them for wanting to fall off.

ChrisB200SX wrote:

I have a rule I try to stick to when racing:

#1 Don't fall off.

Yes, they could have provided better crash protection, but it's the rider's fault for falling off. You take a risk, expect to pay the price. Maybe you wouldn't expect broken bones, but it's hard to do well in a race if you fall off.

Guess that explains why you've reached the levels you have in the sport. Maybe if this Valverde guy takes your advice he might get somewhere. The guy who wins a technical prologue is the guy who almost falls off. 

ChrisB200SX wrote:

I have a rule I try to stick to when racing:

#1 Don't fall off.

Yes, they could have provided better crash protection, but it's the rider's fault for falling off. You take a risk, expect to pay the price. Maybe you wouldn't expect broken bones, but it's hard to do well in a race if you fall off.

In which case you've nver gone as hard as you can, which is kind of the point of racing. It was a bad patch of road. Bennet, Valverde, Bevin and 4 others all came off at mid point in that puddle. Many others missed it. Most of those that came off weren't going as fast as valverde, which shows that the road grip was variable. Did you see how far they slid? It was like trying to ride on ice virtually. Hardly the riders' fault.

madcarew wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

I have a rule I try to stick to when racing:

#1 Don't fall off.

Yes, they could have provided better crash protection, but it's the rider's fault for falling off. You take a risk, expect to pay the price. Maybe you wouldn't expect broken bones, but it's hard to do well in a race if you fall off.

In which case you've nver gone as hard as you can.

You are wrong

Going as hard as you can is unsustainable for a minute, let alone 16 minutes.

If they failed to warn riders of dangerously slippery areas, that's another story. Otherwise, volenti non-fit injuria.

ChrisB200SX wrote:

madcarew wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

I have a rule I try to stick to when racing:

#1 Don't fall off.

Yes, they could have provided better crash protection, but it's the rider's fault for falling off. You take a risk, expect to pay the price. Maybe you wouldn't expect broken bones, but it's hard to do well in a race if you fall off.

In which case you've nver gone as hard as you can.

You are wrong

Going as hard as you can is unsustainable for a minute, let alone 16 minutes.

If they failed to warn riders of dangerously slippery areas, that's another story. Otherwise, volenti non-fit injuria.

He was going as hard as he could for that corner which was going to last about 6 seconds.....

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Valverde's feet hit the barrier, nothing else, maybe he should have being wearing a Hovding on each of his feet and one on the shoulders to protect him?

  Oh that's OK then.  He can ignore the mysteriously caused broken patella that's finished his Tour.  He's obviously confused.

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Valverde's feet hit the barrier, nothing else, maybe he should have being wearing a Hovding on each of his feet and one on the shoulders to protect him?

His kneecap is in two pieces and he's out of the Tour. Why does it matter which bit of him took the initial impact?

If something more suitable than metal railings were placed on the outside of tight corners, he'd have had a fighting chance of being able to get up.  A lighter duty version of a TecPro barrier, for instance. I'm actually struggling to see an argument against something like that.

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Valverde's feet hit the barrier, nothing else, maybe he should have being wearing a Hovding on each of his feet and one on the shoulders to protect him?

Obviously the kneecap is a conspiracy story...

john1967 wrote:

having no crash protection on those dangerous corners is almost criminal.Ofcourse there are always risks but they should be managed were possible.

That is an excellent point, and one which occurred to me watching this arvo.  Obvious crash points where a few Euro's worth of padding would have saved injury.  I'd be really seriously hacked off were I riding today; I'd expect better.  Luckily however, I had an urgent appointment at the garden centre, which panned out injury free.

john1967 wrote:

having no crash protection on those dangerous corners is almost criminal.Ofcourse there are always risks but they should be managed were possible.

I did notice that some corners had crash protection padding strapped to the barriers. Oddly that no padding was not on the bend that claimed Valverde and caused grief with others

john1967 wrote:

having no crash protection on those dangerous corners is almost criminal.Ofcourse there are always risks but they should be managed were possible.

The only risk needing to be managed is disc brakes.

ktache wrote:

Well done G.

Why does the watch bloke ride so ridiculously slowly?

...just what I'd been thinking!   Great job G.  Commiserations to Valverde....

ktache wrote:

Well done G.

Why does the watch bloke ride so ridiculously slowly?

That watch bloke is annoying me already. And what kind of watch is he in the market for ? He's not spent a lot on his bike - I think he's after a second hand Swatch.