Maybe the term “Equipment Failure” wasn’t the best choice of words, but clearly there was a failure by Team BMC that involved equipment.
If you believe the VeloNews article, you can’t help but conclude that Stewart probably wouldn’t have abandoned had he had proper clothing for the conditions. So Team BMC failed him and lost their hope of a KOM victory.
And it’s my experience that gloves are the single most critical clothing item in cold weather. If you can’t grasp the handlebars and work the brakes, it’s over.
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Sheriff: You have a lot of experience with bounty hunters, do you?
Mattie Ross: That is a silly question. I am here to settle my father’s affairs.
Sheriff: All alone?
Mattie Ross: I am the person for it. Mama was never any good at sums and she could hardly spell “CAT”.
--from the movie True Grit (2010)