Originally Posted by Yoeki
All MSR 05 showed was that Boonen had really poor positioning, what else could you prove from that? That whole arguement at best is specious. Maybe we saw differant races? Maybe you saw the directors cut complete with hyperbole.
But seriously, my take after viewing the footage from this stage in Overcoming, is that it looks like Boonen has already chosen to make a rather dramatic line change (seems a skill obtained only by the leaders of Quickstep
) before he starts worrying about his mechanical. Ok its a matter of seconds but thats still the way it looks to me.
It might be getting harder to believe everything Boonens says these days. Not trying to hang him out to dry, i enjoy watching him race but after reading his post race comments about this years MSR, he seems to be putting together quite an extensive list of excuses. Cant ever seem to get in his 11, mechanicals, holding back in the sprint, then something that should be more worrying, refering to himself in the 3rd person more. All the usual sprinters talk really, cept somse other sprinters arent afforded the same benefit of the doubt.
What, you come over here to cover for your boy thunder? Gonna start pushing and shoving everyone around that doesn't agree with you too?
You think this is really bad positioning?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...ano-sanremo-43
So then Baden had really bad positioning at the Giro next to Bettini, cause Boonen and Baden are in virtually identical situations. The only difference was that Boonen wasn't stupid enough to ride into the barriers like your boy Baden. You think McEwen wouldn't have made it through that hole that Boonen's holding back from? The fact is Boonen is not that pushy kind of rider and
his body of work up to this time does not support your assertion that he was switching sides of the road in the 2004 TDF Stage 2. Look at this photo:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tour04.ph.../stage2/CADUTA
Kirsipuu had swung way wide of Boonen while Boonen's move had ended when he got his bike back under control. If that was McEwen instead of Boonen, his body of work would suggest reckless riding; ask Breschel.
But
Boonen doesn't intentionally ride like that in a sprint.
"thunder" was suggesting that Boonen was being shown some type of favoritism when compared to Davis. My point is there is no evidence to suggest this; in fact the mechanical is ample evidence to counter any
specious argument of reckless riding or favoritism. You don't know if Boonen looked down the first or the second or the third time his drivetrain acted up. The judges decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. The other riders gave Boonen the benefit of the doubt. The only people indicting Boonen are a couple of pasty white Aussie internet jockeys who are pissed their boy Davis didn't get his. Your accusation just sounds like sour grapes.