I still think it's possible - if a little unlikely - he was going for a gap found it narrowed and had to use WVA to steady himself rather than just thought I can make that gap bigger by sticking my shoulder into him.
I don't agree it affected the result - except to allow himself through for second of course ! I don't see it affecting anyone's sprint.
How good must their bike handling be to do that and not even break their sprint though.
I still think it's possible - if a little unlikely - he was going for a gap found it narrowed and had to use WVA to steady himself rather than just thought I can make that gap bigger by sticking my shoulder into him.
I don't agree it affected the result - except to allow himself through for second of course ! I don't see it affecting anyone's sprint.
How good must their bike handling be to do that and not even break their sprint though.
I assume then you've not watched it? Look at the video I posted above Bennet and WVA have to adjust and stop pedalling.
I still think it's possible - if a little unlikely - he was going for a gap found it narrowed and had to use WVA to steady himself rather than just thought I can make that gap bigger by sticking my shoulder into him.
I don't agree it affected the result - except to allow himself through for second of course ! I don't see it affecting anyone's sprint.
How good must their bike handling be to do that and not even break their sprint though.
I think he went for a gap that wasn't there yet, expecting Van Aert to move away from the barrier, and he didn't.
First time I think he would have got away with, Wout veers slightly to the right and there was a bit of a bump but after that Sagan deliberately rides left and pushes him over into the path of Bennett who in turn almost went into Ewan. I think he's lucky to get away with the punishment he seems to have got based on that second movement.
Millar in commentary suggest WVA wouldn't go for the sprint as it was likely to be a bit dangerous and as his main job is to support Roglic it would be irresponsible to take the risk. That sprint very nearly proved him right.
Looks like he should lose 25% of his points as well according to the regulations, if not DQ.
I think it's not 25% of his points, but 25% of the points available to the stage winner - in this case 50. So it will be a 12.5 point deduction I think. Which will keep him in second.
When Sagan goes to the barriers he actually shuts the door on a rider coming through on his right as well.
Relegation definitely deserved, and a points penalty should follow.
“Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”
I still think it's possible - if a little unlikely - he was going for a gap found it narrowed and had to use WVA to steady himself rather than just thought I can make that gap bigger by sticking my shoulder into him.
I don't agree it affected the result - except to allow himself through for second of course ! I don't see it affecting anyone's sprint.
How good must their bike handling be to do that and not even break their sprint though.
I assume then you've not watched it? Look at the video I posted above Bennet and WVA have to adjust and stop pedalling.
Any way he's been sanctioned.
I watched it and have just rewatched and don't see Bennett stop pedaling.
Hmmm, the relegation I think is fair, losing the extra points makes the green jersey competition a bit more dull though...
Maybe, but in the process of getting himself DQed Sagan did finally seem to have some legs in the sprint. He might not let green go without a fight. Could definitely see him and Bora fighting for some breakaways and spicing up the first part of stages, especially since Buchmann isn't really in contention in GC.
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Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
Not after Poland.
Otherwise this sport is farked up.
Antwan Tolhoek, Sam Oomen, Tom Dumoulin, Thymen Arensman, Remco Evenepoel, Benoît Cosnefroy, Tom Pidcock, Mark Cavendish, Romain Bardet
This is the gap he was going for.
I don't agree it affected the result - except to allow himself through for second of course ! I don't see it affecting anyone's sprint.
How good must their bike handling be to do that and not even break their sprint though.
- @ddraver
Any way he's been sanctioned.
- @ddraver
Millar in commentary suggest WVA wouldn't go for the sprint as it was likely to be a bit dangerous and as his main job is to support Roglic it would be irresponsible to take the risk. That sprint very nearly proved him right.
I think it's not 25% of his points, but 25% of the points available to the stage winner - in this case 50. So it will be a 12.5 point deduction I think. Which will keep him in second.
Relegation definitely deserved, and a points penalty should follow.
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!