Bottom line, with the bike being previously crashed early on in the race, then being subjected to the roughest and most stressful course equipment wise, the probability of a mechanical failure was very high. The mistake that was made was that he should have been given a new bike after the first crash, to take that probability out of the equation. I was however very impressed that the Aeolus wheels proved so durable, the team usually uses a 32 spoke aluminum wheel for that race.

It was sad, I wanted him to win, and with two teamates in the lead group, it was all there for him, unless of course he led them through the train crossing had he not crashed.