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I read that Vino's surgery was successful.
Small chuckle about the commentary (don't recall which one said this) - something like "There was a small gap in the trees and off they went!"
Yup - every time I see a gap in trees, I have this urge to just ride right through them. Which is why I live in the desert. With friggin cactus & scrub brush.
That was funny. It was Phil Ligget. On a more serious note, Vande Velde and Contador seemed to agree (separate interviews) that the curve was the issue. Contador said it was not well marked and the road was narrow. Vande Velde said that curve seemed to have no end. This must have been when they saw the alluring gap in the trees...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dogmama
Regarding the car incident, Luis León Sánchez, the stage winner, said the riders had been grazed by several cars before during the race. A little trivia I read yesterday: Pedro León, a winger in Real Madrid, is LL Sánchez's young brother. "León" was the first name of an older brother they both honor by pointing at the sky.
And Hoogerland was riding this morning: http://twitpic.com/5oipd1
I hope he does well tomorrow.
Why is this not unacceptable??? The cars made me nervous even before a rider was hit.Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
I think it is unacceptable, just in case. The first time a rider was grazed by a car or motorcycle, something should have been done. It was very fortunate that Flecha and Hoogerland riders are alive. And the ASO sanction of "excluding the car" (as if the car was to blame... who is the driver, why was that car there?) is ridiculous. On days that the race goes through such narrow roads, there should be no VIP cars whatsoever, and a skeleton, minimal, media crew.Quote:
Originally Posted by rubysoho
Why don't they use more helmet cams?Quote:
Originally Posted by pll
I have no idea. I was thinking of that, too. The cameras they use are sending signals to a satellite, so I assume there is some equipment constraint. However, I'm sure they could rig a camera on a motorcycle that could be controlled remotely, from a truck or office, so they can pan around, and zoom. I suspect that would cause some delays (signals traveling back and forth) relative to someone manually panning or zooming. I can bet, though, that the camera folks would be opposed to a remote solution -- I'm sure it can be fun to spend your working day in the middle of the tour, as opposed to a desk.Quote:
Originally Posted by blue_angel
Amen!Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
My fantasy team was a combo of Radio Shack and Team Leopard with a couple others thrown in. I can't look.
As a photographer, I'd like to defend the human artistic element in photographing and videotaping the Tour as it happens. You can't point and shoot elegant images from some remote location. The immediacy and drama of the story in the picture would be gone.
I do agree, however, that there needs to be a restriction on cars and motorcycles driven by people who are not specifically trained in how to drive in close proximity to cyclists. When that Getty Images motorcycle took out the rider a few days ago and dragged his bike 200 yards, I was horrified, but when that car hit Flecha and Hoogerland yesterday, what the hell was that driver thinking? You can see in the video that he was actually speeding up! I think the driver was trying to impress the VIPs in the car by getting them up at the front of the leaders, probably looking at them closely himself, then glanced back at the road, boom there's a tree, and he swerved out of instinct.
I could only read a few words of the French transcript about the car. Could someone translate that, please?
I'm amazed at Hoogerland back up and riding this morning. What a hero indeed.
And what someone else said about rodeo riders having nothing on cyclists. Amen! 8 seconds. Feh.
Roxy
Why is he back up and riding today? It's a rest day...Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
I also wonder about the pollution coming from vehicles & the riders sucking it up. It must be really annoying to the riders - to put it mildly. Gilbert had to ride around a bunch of cars trying to get back to the peleton, thus slowing him down. Doesn't seem right. A few journalists and the team cars (1 car per team) should be the limit.
I wonder if one car per team would be enough to carry enough replacement frames and wheels for all of the riders. Especially if there is a breakaway or other fracture on the peloton. Groups of riders are often separated by 5 minutes or more--a rider in the breakaway can't/shouldn't have to wait 4 minutes for his team car to show up with a new back wheel.
They all ride during the rest days. Otherwise their bodies would think the insane effort was over and their legs would completely shut down. They struggle to ride the day after the rest day as it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by blue_angel
Meanwhile, we have BSNYC's take:
http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-fra...nitive-damages
Also the big news from Stuey and Fabian is that they have finally convinced Jens to get a twitter account.
[QUOTE=ny biker;587355]
Meanwhile, we have BSNYC's take:
http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-fra...nitive-damages
QUOTE]
OMG! :p This was the funniest thing I have read! Still laughing, wiping tears from my eyes. Thanks for sharing!:D
Great, I will have to get on twitter. I have avoided it but if Big Jens is tweeting I may cave.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
The Wall Street Journal has a nicely written account from yesterday: "Surviving a Tour de France Horror Show," by Jason Gay.
The last four paragraphs are particularly poignant.
[QUOTE=channlluv;587335And what someone else said about rodeo riders having nothing on cyclists. Amen! 8 seconds. Feh.[/QUOTE]
A few weeks ago I saw something on the news about some major league baseball player having a sprained ankle, or maybe wrist, I don't know. But it was definitely a sprain. And it was huge news to the sports guy on the tv news: Big Important Baseball Dude Leaves Game Due to Sprained Ankle/Wrist.
And all I could think was, what a pu$$y. He wouldn't last 5 minutes in a bike race.
RT andy_schleck Here we go jens voigt on twitter @thejensie
He already has > 2000 followers in less than 20 minutes.
Drum roll, please... Jensie is now on Twitter: @thejensie
That's the best laugh I've had all day. Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
And the biggest sigh of the day...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater
Fabian cooks lunch for the team to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation.
Roxy
Here ya go:Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
"The car that was involved received the directive from the Course Referee to not pass and to allow the Europcar Directeur Sportif to bring a water bottle to Thomas Voeckler that he had requested. Ignoring this order, the car sped up and caused the crash of the two racers," said the the Tour head-honchos in a communique that considered the behavior "unacceptable."
Ironically we call our puppy Jensie! I keep telling my husband the puppy is too wimpy, I am going to get him a collar that is embroidered with TTFU so Jens Voigt doesn't take his name back. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
Geemonetti. Thanks, Tulip.
"Unacceptable"?
Oy-freakin'-vey.
What's wrong with "unacceptable?" I certainly think the driver's move was unacceptable.
It's such an understatement.
"Egregious error in judgement," maybe.
The word in French is intolérable. Perhaps my translation was understated. A better translation would be something like "completely unacceptable." It's a very strong word.Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
Ooohhh, well, there you go. Intolerable is stronger.
I wonder what will happen to the driver of that car. I know he's been kicked out of the Tour, but I would imagine there are more repercussions than that. I would hope so, at any rate. He ignored orders to pull over.
I can hardly wait for the post-rest day commentary tomorrow morning.
Roxy
Would unconscionable be a good word? seeing that on TV made me want to punch something.
There are lots of good words - but none that I can use here.Quote:
Originally Posted by beccaB
Phil went with "disgraceful."
Haha! I think things like that too.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
I think it was Pujols on the Cards. next thing you know - 15 day disabled list. Cyclists - patch up at 40kph and keep on truckin'.
I saw this photo online and while a little disturbing, shows the real character of the rider, Chapeaux Johnny Hoogerland!!
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6827671_n.jpg
Click only if you have a strong constitution. Also a little sad that someone stood there taking photos of him in likely one of the worst moment of his life instead of climbing in to help him.
I normally wouldn't post but this dude is my new hero.
I enjoyed BikeSnob's idea of revenge:
"If I were a Tour official, I’d start by sentencing the driver to spend the entire rest day sealed in a hamper containing the whole peloton’s dirty bib shorts. Then, I’d make him spend the remaining stages locked inside the Garmin team bus bathroom. (They don’t call Thor Hushovd the “God of Thunder” for nothing.)
Finally, once the Tour was over, I’d tie him to a chair Clockwork Orange–style and make him listen to an edited recording consisting entirely of every single one of Paul Sherwen’s tedious French châteaux facts. I can hear it now:
“Did you know, Phil, that the Chateau du Fromage was built in 1620 by Louis XIII’s cousin in order to house his extensive collection of fragrant cheeses?”
“NOOO! Make it stop! I can’t take it anymore!”
I know it’s cruel, but the punishment should fit the crime."
http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-fra...mages?page=0,0
I just read on Cycling News in an article about Johnny Hoogerland that "Race director Jean-Francois Pescheux apologized and said it was a scandalous thing that happened." Is something getting exaggerated in the translation or is this suggesting the car rammed the cyclists on purpose? With all of the politics in TDF I'd wondered if it could have been deliberate, but surely a French TV car wouldn't nearly take out Voekler. On the other hand, the car rammed right into Flecha. Hoogerland was being very nice about it and said he doesn't think it was done on purpose.--
I was wondering when the French-bashing would begin...I seriously doubt it was on purpose. The driver overcorrected to avoid the tree. He or she should not have been passing to begin with.
I rather like the tidbits about the chateaux and villages. It's great exposure for alot of very economically depressed small towns to have the Tour pass through. I've been watching Eurosport coverage and they don't give as much information on the regions and towns. I miss those stories.
It is hard to exaggerate about what happened, hyperbole is nearly impossible. It was scandalous, intolerable, disgraceful, etc. It was an officially accredited car that hit the riders (which implies some sort of vetting -- of course, they do not vet based on driving skills, but they might reconsider that). The riders could have been severely hurt or worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deborajen
The notion that it hitting the riders was on purpose is ludicrous in my view. Hopefully, the police is involved and that the driver was stopped that day and checked for traces of alcohol. I'm with Tulip -- I enjoy hearing a little of the history and factoids of each region.
Here's a cute picture, from an ITV (UK) photo gallery:
http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/2011...wFile.jpg.ashx
Every time I see Tommy Voeckler I just want to pinch his cheeks!
Wait - One of my favorite riders is Thomas Voekler!Quote:
Originally Posted by tulip
I'll grant you that I'm a little suspicious. There is a lot of history in the Tour, and some of it is the French not always being particularly good sports about their countrymen not winning. But like I said, did something get lost in the translation? And you answered that part. :)
There are boneheads in every country. Maybe this driver was one of them (besides being a lousy driver and not following directions). France is kind enough to invite the world to be their guests and participate in this event. Yes, it's a beautiful country, too!