Originally Posted by waltergodefroot
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.
have a look at the footage of the stage. Don't compare it to his "ouevre". what cr@p, who cares about perception and previous form. Judge it on its merits on the day. If you think Boonen shifted to get a better leadout on the left *our right of screen, and he caused Kirsipuu to change his line, which caused the crash, plus he was under full control of his bike, then he must be guilty.
Davis was guilty. He should have been relegated. He made a dramatic move and went for a hole. I would expect him to jump for that hole 100% of the time. I would expect any sprinter worth his salt to go for the line Davis chose. unfortunately he caused a crash and it was dangerous sprinting. Sprinting is by its nature very dangerous.
Boonen had a hole to jump to in 2005 MSR, but waited and it closed. It was small, and too small before the link and photo you posted, but Mcewen or Cooke could have made that hole before it closed, the thing is, Mcewen and Cooke could not have possibly won if they went then because they do not have the strenght. Boonen does not have the skill or handling like Cooke and Mcewen but he has the speed and strength to possibly win if he got through before the hole close. I don't think he would have won last year tho, Petacchi was too strong, however he could have pushed Hushovd for third and potentially taken Hondo.