@blue_angel:

Apparently, Voeckler looked back, saw the accident and took the opportunity to launch an attack. At least that is how Flecha and the interviewer perceived it. I must say that I am not privy to the internal moral code of the peloton, so I can't very well say what social rule V. seems to have broken, other than making the best of someone else's misery, which is not very nice. I leave it to others on the forum to clue us into that. Here's Flecha's answer to the question, "what did you think when you saw Voeckler accelerate after the accident?":

"Pues lo veo normal dentro de lo que es Voeckler, porque va as* en todas las escapadas, sembrando cizaña. Antes, justamente, Casar, otro del grupo, le hab*a echado una bronca porque atacaba bajando después de pelear por los puntos de la montaña, en vez de esperar a los que no los disputábamos. Iba con la fijación del maillot amarillo, le daba todo igual. Ya le conocemos, me habr*a sorprendido lo contrario."

Translation: "I see it as normal, given who Voeckler is, since that is how he operates in all the escapes, sowing discord. Just prior, Casar, another in the group, had reprimanded him because he was attacking on the descent after fighting for the mountain points, instead of waiting for those of us who were not challenging for those. He was fixated on the yellow jersey, he didn't care. We know him, I would have been surprised had he acted otherwise."

I don't ride in groups, and I know nothing of the ethos of the peloton, or road racing, but from the commentary, it is clear that there is an expectation of not abusing other's misfortune (or perhaps, not being so crass about it?).

MuddyTrails