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Unexpected bridge opening throws Tour of Norway into disarray

The timing was unfortunate at the race appeared to be in the bag

An unexpected bridge opening threw yesterday’s stage of the Tour of Norway into disarray, and helped the Australian cyclist Chloe Hosking back into winning form.

It was almost at the end of the stage where, 5km from the finish line, a bridge opened.

It was a catastrophe for the four riders leading 20-30 seconds off the front of the peloton, as the rest of the group caught up before the race was restarted en masse.

This put sprinter Hosking back in the frame for the final effort.

“There was a break just up the road and then all of sudden we rounded a corner, and I saw the motos stopping and the boom gates going down and the whole peloton stopping,” Hosking said following the race.

“Luckily the girls had moved me up to the front, so when we stopped, we were right at the front.

“I was a bit spooked by the situation because we were essentially doing a mass start five-kilometre sprint.

“It was super technical but I managed to find my position again and surf wheels to stay well-positioned.”

Race organisers explained afterwards that it had been arranged for the bridge in question to remain closed until 6pm local time.

But the stage had been slower than expected and the riders did not reach the bridge on the final round until 15 seconds after that time, when the bridge had been opened for waiting boats.

Marianne Vos claimed the lead in the Ladies Tour of Norway general classifications standing following the stage.

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11 comments

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Krazyfrenchkanuck | 6 years ago
2 likes

Stupid Internets opened the bridge !

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Krazyfrenchkanuck | 6 years ago
1 like

Stupid Internets opened the bridge !

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Krazyfrenchkanuck | 6 years ago
1 like

Stupid Internets opened the bridge !

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fenix | 6 years ago
1 like

Stupid internets repeating my comments...

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don simon fbpe replied to fenix | 6 years ago
1 like

 

.

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fenix | 6 years ago
0 likes

Yeah cos stuff like this never happens in Paris Roubaix or the Vuelta.....

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fenix | 6 years ago
1 like

Yeah cos stuff like this never happens in Paris Roubaix or the Vuelta.....

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
0 likes

Yeah cos stuff like this never happens in Paris Roubaix or the Vuelta.....

Avatar
fenix | 6 years ago
2 likes

Yeah cos stuff like this never happens in Paris Roubaix or the Vuelta.....

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wycombewheeler | 6 years ago
0 likes

Shambles. If the break had been a little earlier the bridge would have prevented the peloton catching up.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX replied to wycombewheeler | 6 years ago
1 like

wycombewheeler wrote:

Shambles. If the break had been a little earlier the bridge would have prevented the peloton catching up.

However, it would have meant the gap to the peloton would be opened even further, which would also not be ideal. Depends on your perspective, but I think keeping the breakaway ahead would be the least bad result.

I don't see why they couldn't have waited another 15 seconds, they must have seen the race approaching when the chose to press the button to open the bridge?

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