Grumpy McTrumpy

have you ever inflated a tubular without a rim? they hold their shape pretty darn well. It is certainly enough to spring the thing back once it's not under load.

Walter

I can buy that. Haven't rode sew-ups regularly in a long time but I remeember the inflate to stretch routine.

curiouskid55

Cav's 404 folds at contact with Hauslers front wheel. No bend, the rim is completly broken. Spokes and the tire aparently pop it back into shape. Hausler has a deep cut , may be okay for the tour.

SpongeDad

From overhead, it looked like Cav was trying to ride into / block at least Ciolek's line. There is a slight drift to the left in the road, though so maybe Cav deserves the benefit of the doubt.

kleinboogie

He wouldn't have been up front challenging for the win after 192.2 km with alums.

That's true but if you watch the video, Cav looks to his left several times so he knew exactly where everyone was and he still drifted in front of them. This is classic Cav. Look, drift and either crash or force his competitor to let up. He's an a-hole.

Gotta love the protest they did today. https://www.velonation.com/News/ID/45...our-crash.aspx

WCroadie

Wrong!
Cav caused that crash, no doubt. But to say that is classic Cav and that he forces others to let up and that's how he wins is wrong. He wins cause he is faster then everyone else.

deep_sky

You would think a sprinter of that caliber would know to keep a straight line when they are at full tilt like that. He might win some sprints by simply being stronger that day, but is disingenuous to say that that is how he wins all the time. I've seen plenty of sprints where he just forces his opponents to let up by drifting off his line just enough that he doesn't get called for it.
I don't care how good he is or how good he thinks he is, the guy lacks tact and class, and he is reaping what he has sown, now.

Bianchigirll 

looking at the video it looks like construction paper! it just folds over but then seems to rebound

ridethecliche

If you watch the video carefully, you'll see that both Cav and HH were changing their lines and going for the same hole. They both look down at the same time. HH is content where he is so he puts his head down and starts to go, while Cavendish is still moving and has his head down too. When they both started the sprint, the hole was clear. They just both went for it at the same time without realizing the other was there. Sure Cavendish was the last guy to move, but I don't think the fault is entirely with him.

WCroadie

Yes and same goes for Haussler. Watch the video again, 200m before the finish Haussler swerves right, into Cavendish and almost runs him into the barriers. It's funny how people are so quick to jump on the band wagon and lay the blame on someone. You have to watch it with an open mind, I'm not saying Cav isn't at fault, he is, but you really think he purposely tried to crash Haussler? If Cav didn't go down Haussler would probably have caused Ciolek to go down, they were both trying to get in front of Ciolek to cut the other off and they arrived at the same time.

scotch

damn.

grolby

This is called "closing the door," and it is a classic and standard sprinting tactic. Cavendish did not invent it. Closing the door correctly is completely safe. This incident was not a matter of closing a door, Cav moved his line significantly for reasons that aren't clear to me. Given that he came around Ciolek on the right and that the road apparently has a slight leftward bend, shortest distance between two points etc, but I don't see why he moved that far.

From the overhead, it's abundantly clear that the crash was Cav's fault. No matter what his intent, he swung over too far, too quickly. It looks like he looked left once as he came past Ciolek, said "Ok, I'm clear, let's go" and then put his head down and went left. Didn't see Haussler because he thought he had plenty of room. As it turns out, he was wrong. He definitely earned his penalties, and hopefully learns a lesson about looking and moving (judging by his commentary and lack of acknowledgment that the crash was probably 90% his fault, I'm guessing not). Normally I'm okay with Cavendish, yeah, he's got a big mouth, but I don't see that as a big problem. This was pretty egregious, though.

Who's that Sky rider that threaded in between Ciolek and Boonen as they were on the way down? Crazy quick bike-handling, though his bibs might have been a bit heavier when he got off the bike.

Rippin

Check out this crash during Stage 5:

kleinboogie

I never said that he cuts people off to win. He can cut people off because he's in front about to win. He does it because he's an a-hole. There's a difference.

recon455

Wow there is basically no deceleration in the entire time he is sliding.

recon455

"Bystanders claimed that Cavendish responded to criticism from riders after Tuesday’s incident by spitting on the ground on front of them."
https://velonews.competitor.com/2010/...actions_121290

FreddyV

Who needs ****ty pictures anyway

JoeOxfordCT

I saw that last night too...

I was impressed how that guy controlled the skid right until he ran out of road....

botto 

brake cable broke.

hurley.girl

Check out the Rabobank rider on the right. Friere maybe? He goes into a full back-wheel skid, ends up sideways but doesn't fall. That's impressive.

WCroadie

Your words not mine, if he is not cutting people off then how is he forcing them to let up?

So which is it, does he crash his competitors, cut them off, drift over, force them to let up? Or maybe he is just faster. He doesn't look to be on the same form he was last year, this year he is getting beat and not winning as big. I can't say if he is an a-hole or not, I don't know him. Is he arrogant, brash, runs his mouth, cocky, yup. Then again, a lot of sprinters are.

rufus

Flecha.

Terex

Cool link, botto. Google Translate is awesome. Even the funny stuff comes off pretty funny.

Born

Cav is officially out. Cited injuries from the crash this morning right before the race. He still followed behind the peleton to get some mountain training for the tour, but probably bailed completly when he saw the first climb 20km in. Mario Cipollini reborn. I might get a link up, but cant say I feel like digging through the cyclingnews ticker.

You will be missed Cav! Next couple of stages could be pretty boring without you.

recon455

What are you talking about? I am glad he withdrew. He should have withdrawn just for causing the crash.

NOTE: Not saying I am glad he is hurt, or wish he was hurt.