Pro cyclists and driving

sing_for_absolution

After the sad death of Andreas Matzbacher in a car crash on christmas eve, Paride Grillo recently did this to his BMW



resulting in injuries that'll keep him out for a while.

I remember Pantani had his moments involving cars too. Is it over-confidence?

Smokin Joe

A racer is a racer, adding a couple of wheels and an engine just means they can do it faster.

afx237vi

Schumacher (Stefan, not Michael) also had a crash sometime after the worlds last year... Boonen trashed a car in Monaco... then there's Jan Ullrich... Pantani had several didn't he?

andrewgturnbull

Smokin Joe wrote:

A racer is a racer, adding a couple of wheels and an engine just means they can do it faster.

Yup - there's definitely a correlation between those who ride a bike fast and drive fast. When you consider the risks you take bike racing, driving fast (too fast) just seems very tame and safe in comparison...

I never speed in town though - 30.0mph all the way.

Cheers, Andy

nwallace

andrewgturnbull wrote:

I never speed in town though - 30.0mph all the way.

your probably 2 speed bumps away from broken suspension then or if a heavy one an airborne departure into the school kids.

campagchris

andrewgturnbull wrote:

I never speed in town though - 30.0mph all the way.

Cheers, Andy

and thats on your bike

Monty Dog

Poor old Bettini - he's just sold his second Ferrari too, only having a 430 to play with. Apparently he's bought a plane though - just hope that he flies that with a little bit more restraint and control!

LangerDan

Monty Dog wrote:

Poor old Bettini - he's just sold his second Ferrari too, only having a 430 to play with. Apparently he's bought a plane though - just hope that he flies that with a little bit more restraint and control!

The BMW belongs to Paride Grillo rather than Il Grillo

(I made the same error too, initially thinking Paolo must have fallen off his booster seat)

Albertina

I believe Boonen crashed his car while trying to avoid hitting a cat

Kléber

Boonen's Lamborghini:


I can't find the image but there's a great, if tragic, image of Pantani chatting to a Carabinieri officer with his 4x4 parked ontop of another car behind him.

Young bloke + money = fast car + accident

Johnny G

Kléber wrote:

I can't find the image but there's a great, if tragic, image of Pantani chatting to a Carabinieri officer with his 4x4 parked ontop of another car behind him.

It's in the Matt Rendell book. They both look vey relaxed and seem to be shaking hands. The copper had probably just got The Pirate's autograph!

OffTheBackAdam

And there's the example of Luc Alphand, went from downhill ski racer to 2006 Paris-Dakar winner.

nwallace

OffTheBackAdam wrote:

And there's the example of Luc Alphand, went from downhill ski racer to 2006 Paris-Dakar winner.

If the Dakar was a drag race it would be a fair comparison.

Most of the stages only really differ from a normal stage rally in that the roads are open, speed limits where they apply apply (has any of the less developed african nations got an equivilent of our national speed limit?) and the distance. It's when they head into the sand dues more remote than you can get in europe, relying on GPS for directions and their own ability to judge the correct speed and route to get over the due while hoping there isn't a biker fallen or crew digging a car out at the summit.

andrewgturnbull

nwallace wrote:

OffTheBackAdam wrote:

And there's the example of Luc Alphand, went from downhill ski racer to 2006 Paris-Dakar winner.

If the Dakar was a drag race it would be a fair comparison.

Most of the stages only really differ from a normal stage rally in that the roads are open, speed limits where they apply apply (has any of the less developed african nations got an equivilent of our national speed limit?) and the distance. It's when they head into the sand dues more remote than you can get in europe, relying on GPS for directions and their own ability to judge the correct speed and route to get over the due while hoping there isn't a biker fallen or crew digging a car out at the summit.

...or terrorists. Those pesky terrorists spoil everyones fun. Where are Team America when you need them?

Cheers, Andy

ps Obscure cycling link - ASO organise the Dakar too.