Originally Posted by
Fast4 50
I don't understand what you mean. My handlebars were definitely in front of his when he entered the sprinters lane.
I was the trailing rider and I engaged the sprint by diving underneath him when he looked forward. It's a weird situation but when he entered the sprinters lane he was basically on my hip but moving much slower than me. I went to the blue band to avoid crashing him. I was on the blue band for less than a second and went there to avoid contact.
After you got back on the track, did you let him draw even with you and then continue on?
...or did you keep the lead that you gained while being off the track?
I think that's the thing to consider.
Going off the track does not disqualify anyone, even in mass start races. People get pushed off all the time and they go down there to avoid contact and keep everyone safe. If you come back up into the same position or you relinquish the position that you gained while being under, that will help your argument that you did not go down there to advance your position.
But, even in a scratch race or keirin, if a racer gets pushed down to the apron through no fault of his own (let's say avoiding an accident), and he gains even one position, he's at fault.
So, as I mentioned before, I think if you had gone down, came back up and let him draw even, then you may not have been relegated.