Dolamite02

Golf-clap

carpediemracing 

There's some level of expectation for different categories.

To see a massive crash like that in the 4s, kind of expected.

To see a massive crash like that in the pros, not really expected. If it happened we'd be watching Youtube clips of it for years. "Remember that one field sprint where 20 guys went down, I think it was the Tour, maybe the Giro?"

In the 3s I'd expect a huge crash too, not because someone swerved all over the road but because two guys were leaning on each other and hit the deck or did something idiotic like hit the fencing accelerating out of a turn.

botto 

never realized that cat 4/5s know how to handle their bikes like pros.

thanks for clearing that up.

rkwaki

Whats funny is I have raced with sketchy 1/2s as well.

botto 

cat 2s aren't pros, and cat 1s aren't what they used to be.

ChucklesKY

"That's what I was thinking!!!", says the guy who grew up in Gastonia, NC.

rkwaki

Good point, you are correct.
But by the time you are a 1/2 you should be able to handle your bike with some sort of proficiency.

Racer Ex 

I resemble that remark.

wanders

hammy56

mad skill.

Creakyknees

shovelhd

True that.

shovelhd

You're special.

hammy56

nm

GirlAnachronism

Cat 3 is still the ultimate cat though, right?

carpediemracing 

Yes it is.

botto 

i need to email the friend of mine who coined that term.

winterrider

I've seen pros sweep across the pack and cause massive pile ups in sprints. More than once, and I've only been watching pro cycling for 5 years. I couldn't comment on where its more likely (probably the 4s though), but it happens at all levels of racing, and with enough regularity that is is always a possibility.

Pros have been known to ride into a parked truck in a time trial because their head was down, or crash themselves out of a sprint they were winning by riding into the barriers without any assistance to do so.

winterrider

What about the guy who won the sprint. He moved over at least 10 feet during the sprint (and this was the main reason the green/blue guy swerved to try and come around him).

Brian Ratliff

Sounds like the lady doth protest too much. Yea, the lead guy drifted. But blue-green guy was all over the road. First right, then left, then hard left to sweep the front wheel out from the guy behind.

And in the pros, they can deal with it. Stuff happens in a sprint, yes, but even the least experienced have been racing bikes for a very long time and they know how to deal with a side to side sprint. Cat 4, not so much.

jwible

The risk / reward factor in a pro making a questionable move vs an amateur also is pretty valid. Why do a bonehead move that puts others at risk when the only thing to gain from it is some ego points and maybe $20.00.

On another note, if you leadout a teammate when you blowup do you stay straight or shoot for the left side?

shovelhd

I hold my line.

waterrockets 

Any thoughts on style points for just unclipping and laying your bike down in the middle of the pack because there's a crash way way up in front of you?

(go to 0:37)

.be

Creatre

Haha, boy that guy sure knows how to grab some front brake though.

carpediemracing 

Hoods. It may not be causual but it's definitely a correlation thing. I bet on the drops it might have turned out differently.