Road Bike Racing - TOC-Cavendish relegated, wahappen?

Cavendish was relegated. Right after the sprint, Cippolini was pissed at Cavendish, he seemed to have some words with him. Then the announcement that Cav. was relegated.

It must be that Cavendish had some illegal help chasing back up to the peleton after the crash.

Any news?

:(

Haven't found any updates yet...that was the only thing I could figure happened as well.

Mark Cavendish (Team High Road) may have won the stage six final sprint into Santa Clarita, but he did not win the stage. Officials gave him a 20 second time penalty for hanging onto a team car when trying to regain the peloton after a crash on the finishing circuits that involved several Rock Racing riders including Mario Cipollini and Freddie Rodriguez.

cyclingnews.com

What a bunch of bull..

Mark Cavendish (Team High Road) may have won the stage six final sprint into Santa Clarita, but he did not win the stage. Officials gave him a 20 second time penalty for hanging onto a team car when trying to regain the peloton after a crash on the finishing circuits that involved several Rock Racing riders including Mario Cipollini and Freddie Rodriguez.

cyclingnews.com

serves him right if thats what happened.

still one of the most impressive kicks I've seen in a while.

nice to know that Team High Road is not above a little opportunistic advantage-gettin'

for a moment there, i was afraid that all these "reform" teams were going to do to cycling what the Puritans did to sex.

^^true, but a bit easier after a brief respite from the race.

nice to know that Team High Road is not above a little opportunistic advantage-gettin'

for a moment there, i was afraid that all these "reform" teams were going to do to cycling what the Puritans did to sex.

Before you set off into the sunset on that high horse of yours, recall what position Cipo took in the sprint, and ask yoursef a simple question: if Cavendish got to the front with some help from his team car, how exactly did a 40-something rider end up a bike length behind him, given that they both were involved in the crash?

Before you set off into the sunset on that high horse of yours, recall what position Cipo took in the sprint, and ask yoursef a simple question: if Cavendish got to the front with some help from his team car, how exactly did a 40-something rider end up a bike length behind him, given that they both were involved in the crash?

you're implying that Cipo cheated too and that further validates my observation that there's nothing new under the sun. same old same old.

Before you set off into the sunset on that high horse of yours, recall what position Cipo took in the sprint, and ask yoursef a simple question: if Cavendish got to the front with some help from his team car, how exactly did a 40-something rider end up a bike length behind him, given that they both were involved in the crash?
Did you notice Cipo lighting into Cavendish immediately after the finish? I guess Cipo was working his way back while Cav was hanging out of the cab.

By the time they entered the finishing circuits, Cipo has already managed to catch up with the peloton after a wheel change - at least once.
So no, I do not think Cavendish was whisked past Cipo as he pedaled furiously by himself.

Cipo was relegated as well.
Results put him and Cavendish at the back of the front group.

Maybe Cipo was telling him after something like that you keep a low profile at the line and not draw all sorts of attention by sprinting for the win...

should get some sound information to make sure just not alot of rumours.

The official website clearly shows the two of them 20 seconds behind the pack's time. What part are you trying to get clear information for?

I would love to see some footage of them working back to the group, they were standing still while the pace was ON. My wife and I were convinced they must have cut the course somehow.

More info:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/feb08/california08/?id=results/california086

Cipo was riding a Cannondale, which is clearly an unfair advantage.

I was kind of wondering how Cipo got back. I figured he took a bus. He did.

+1 cannondales are speedy.

Cipo was riding a Cannondale, which is clearly an unfair advantage.

I was kind of wondering how Cipo got back. I figured he took a bus. He did.

+1 cannondales are speedy.
:rolleyes:

According to Velonews Cavendish was holding onto the team car to get his rear dr adjusted. This is a common practice isn't it? I've seen riders holding on to get their bikes fixed many times. Cippo also got relagated for holding onto the team car. Cippo was mad at Cavendish for causing the crash.

According to Velonews Cavendish was holding onto the team car to get his rear dr adjusted. This is a common practice isn't it? I've seen riders holding on to get their bikes fixed many times. Cippo also got relagated for holding onto the team car. Cippo was mad at Cavendish for causing the crash.

I read the same article and I am a bit confused, too. Would he have been charged the penalty if he hadn't won? What if the crash was in at 40km rather than the last 5k and they made the same adjustments for his rear dr? not suggesting anything fishy, rules are rules afterall, but enforcing them has always been the gray area.

nice to know that Team High Road is not above a little opportunistic advantage-gettin'

for a moment there, i was afraid that all these "reform" teams were going to do to cycling what the Puritans did to sex.

wow.. just...... wow.

Too often the problem is that these rules are not consistently applied.

Then again, if they were, there'd be so many pointless little time penalties.

More info:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/feb08/california08/?id=results/california086

Thanks for posting the link.

Just a personal note...
Interesting to read Cav's quotes, laced with swearing.

I don't know why, but that has always bothered me. To me, the mark of an inmature, unprofessional, unable to control himself dolt.

But that's just me.

Carry on....

Oh...

And I thought it was a very entertaining stage to watch on TV.

It ain't perfect, but thank goodness for VERSUS in February up here in Siberia, Wisconsin.

Those quotes weren't from Mark Cavendish, they were from Brian Holm and Bob Stapleton...

Those quotes weren't from Mark Cavendish, they were from Brian Holm and Bob Stapleton...

Incorrect, Cavendish is quoted with lots of cursing and critical of the race organizers, who had nothing to do with the official's decision . Cavendish sounds like a dopey teen ager whose parents wont let him have the car on a friday night.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/feb08/california08/?id=results/california086

According to Velonews Cavendish was holding onto the team car to get his rear dr adjusted. This is a common practice isn't it?

It's a common practice WHEN the derailleur actually needs to be adjusted. Cavendish had a bike change and the odds of the new bike having an unadjusted derailleur is pretty slim. No one ever seems to get angry at all the team mechanics who are constantly putting bikes on the tops of team cars that NEVER seem to be adjusted properly before a race. I mean, is it so far off that the rider can't use the trim adjustment the rest of us can? :D

And even if it really did need some adjusting, it's pretty obvious to officials if the car is going 65kph while the rider is hanging on with 7km left in the race. Oh, and then wins.

Thanks for posting the link.

Just a personal note...
Interesting to read Cav's quotes, laced with swearing.

I don't know why, but that has always bothered me. To me, the mark of an inmature, unprofessional, unable to control himself dolt.

But that's just me.

Carry on....

i have no qualms with swearing. in fact, if used in the correct manner, they're as good an adjective as any.

that said, while he's shown that he's got plenty of talent, cavendish has comes across as a spoiled and obnoxious prick (;)) for the past year.

Those quotes weren't from Mark Cavendish, they were from Brian Holm and Bob Stapleton...

reading is fundamental. duh.


"I think it's bull**** because when you neutralize a race 15km from the finish when an American is in the yellow jersey, last year, why you can't go with that rule!" a disappointed Cavendish told Cyclingnews. "It's just bull**** -- who is working on this f**king race? I don't understand it. There have been cars in bike races for a hundred years."

"When you have every car in the peloton dropping back to get me on... like it has been in professional cycling for a hundred years... who is working on the jury here? What are you going to do, make it a f**cking crit every day? So now next year they are going to make it a criterium every day!"

I for one am shocked and appalled that a pro rider would actually draft off the team cars to advance his position in a professional bicycle race. Shocked I say. The next thing you'll tell me is my hero Roger Clemens took steroids.

I for one am shocked and appalled that a pro rider would actually draft off the team cars to advance his position in a professional bicycle race. Shocked I say. The next thing you'll tell me is my hero Roger Clemens took steroids.

didn't you get the memo? it was his wife.

According to Velonews Cavendish was holding onto the team car to get his rear dr adjusted. This is a common practice isn't it? I've seen riders holding on to get their bikes fixed many times. Cippo also got relagated for holding onto the team car. Cippo was mad at Cavendish for causing the crash.
He had just changed to a spare bike. I seriously doubt that bike had dérailleur problems. I think he was hanging on the car to get pulled back up under the guise of having dérailleur issues. I don't believe leapfrogging cars back into the field was the issue. He got penalized for hanging on, not drafting.

If he hangs on to a team car and finishes in the field I don't think there's a problem; but getting a chariot ride back into a field moving at over 35mph with 5K to go? then magically winning the stage certainly looks fishy. If he truly had enough gas to do that then why couldn't he stay off the front the other day for 300 meters when Ciolek created a gap for him? I love when guys cry a blue streak about dopers but think nothing of cheating thru other means.

It's a common practice WHEN the derailleur actually needs to be adjusted. Cavendish had a bike change and the odds of the new bike having an unadjusted derailleur is pretty slim. No one ever seems to get angry at all the team mechanics who are constantly putting bikes on the tops of team cars that NEVER seem to be adjusted properly before a race. I mean, is it so far off that the rider can't use the trim adjustment the rest of us can? :D

And even if it really did need some adjusting, it's pretty obvious to officials if the car is going 65kph while the rider is hanging on with 7km left in the race. Oh, and then wins.

Just a thought. But usually when I have seen a race where someone is holding onto the car while the mechanic works on the bike, the car maintains its position. I would imagine in this case the team car was actively trying to get him back to the pack at the same time.

-D

I stand corrected and require to read properly. I offer my apologies to Mr Holm and Mr Stapleton. I also agree that I have no issue with the swearing... I too would be very annoyed fair or not.

He had just changed to a spare bike. I seriously doubt that bike had dérailleur problems. I think he was hanging on the car to get pulled back up under the guise of having dérailleur issues. I don't believe leapfrogging cars back into the field was the issue. He got penalized for hanging on, not drafting.

If he hangs on to a team car and finishes in the field I don't think there's a problem; but getting a chariot ride back into a field moving at over 35mph with 5K to go? then magically winning the stage certainly looks fishy. If he truly had enough gas to do that then why couldn't he stay off the front the other day for 300 meters when Ciolek created a gap for him? I love when guys cry a blue streak about dopers but think nothing of cheating thru other means.


From Velonews:

Cavendish mounted a spare rig and chased behind his team car in the race caravan. He pulled alongside his car, holding on while a mechanic worked on his bike.

“I got on my spare bike but it had an 11-23 and it was adjusted for a 12 so I had it adjusted on the way back up,” he said.

From Velonews:

Cavendish mounted a spare rig and chased behind his team car in the race caravan. He pulled alongside his car, holding on while a mechanic worked on his bike.

“I got on my spare bike but it had an 11-23 and it was adjusted for a 12 so I had it adjusted on the way back up,” he said.

What does that mean exactly? It wouldn't shift down to the 11? Wouldn't the 11 be in the same place the 12 was? Other than chain slack I'm not sure I see what they'd be adjusting.

Cipo was riding a Cannondale, which is clearly an unfair advantage.

I was kind of wondering how Cipo got back. I figured he took a bus. He did.

Incorrect. Rock Racing rides De Rosa's.

http://www.rockracing.com/gallery/2008-02-21_ToC-Stage4/243_RRTHUR.jpg

Incorrect. Cipo rides a fully different bike.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/feb08/california08/tech.php?id=/tech/2008/features/toc_stage_two_08

Incorrect. Rock Racing rides De Rosa's.

http://www.rockracing.com/gallery/2008-02-21_ToC-Stage4/243_RRTHUR.jpg

Incorrect yourself, I saw the friggin post-crash video, I freeze framed it three times, it looked like a Cannondale. Turns out is was some custom aluminum frame with CIPPOLINI decals on the frame, I thought they said Cdale. But it certainly wasn't the RR Team issue De Rosa.

Incorrect. Cipo rides a fully different bike.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/feb08/california08/tech.php?id=/tech/2008/features/toc_stage_two_08

I stand corrected!

From Cyclingnews:

Cipollini's aluminum frame does apparently use a handful of tubing and dropouts similar to what he used on his old Specialized E5 bike but it isn't welded in a Specialized factory. According to our sources, his frame was built by Simone Carlesso of Bassano del Grappa, Italy, the same person who built his bikes when Cipollini rode for the big 'S'.

In fact, it seems that Cipollini's choice of machine has little, if anything, to do with a dislike of Rock Racing's official equipment but rather a desire to stick with something familiar. The flamboyant Italian sprinter may still be fast but at this stage in his career he's not terribly interested in getting accustomed to something totally new. Seeing as how he is Mario Cipollini after all, apparently even Michael Ball can't tell him what to do.

Incorrect yourself, I saw the friggin post-crash video, I freeze framed it three times, it looked like a Cannondale. It certainly wasn't the RR Team issue De Rosa.

Well it isn't a C'dale either /\/\/\

Well it isn't a C'dale either /\/\/\

Closer to a Cdale than a DeRosa. That washed up Cippo isn't good enough for a Cdale.

you think you could be him Pcad?

I'd be cussing too. There's footage of it, they were working on his bike and they weren't exactly flying through the chase group. You can see the mechanic working. Given that it was within the Levi rule and that it was in no way clear cheating, it seems like a really stupid mistake on the organizers part to relegate him. I think they hurt the credibility of the race more than they protected it.

Cavendish is a cheat, but at least he was called on it this time. He cheated in the 10 mile scratch race at the Commonwealth Games too. Cheat cheat cheat.

The organisers cheated for Leipheimer last year. And the Tour de Trump organisers cheated for Lemond and Rominger in similar circumstances one year. Then the new york yacht club cheated in the Americas Cup for years, until the Aussies out-cheated them in '83. Plus seppos didn't ban Carl Lewis for cheating. Seppos are cheats.

Given that it was within the Levi rule and that it was in no way clear cheating, it seems like a really stupid mistake on the organizers part to relegate him. I think they hurt the credibility of the race more than they protected it.
The UCI commissires make the decisions regarding rules infractions. The race organizers have NOTHING to do with the decision and no more say in the matter than you or I do. zero. zilch. nada.