Tour de France thread

The fourth stage was today. During the sprint finish today Mark Cavendish went down hard due to a racing incident about a 100 meters from the line.

18 more stages to go

 

Hope Sagan didn't do that on purpose!

 

It was more of Cavendish trying to go for an opening that wasnt there. That was a racing incident.
Peter Sagan is a star of the sport. I'd be surprised if Sagan is disqualified.

 

Any word on Cavendish? I bet that shoulder is separated. Did anyone notice his leg when the other rider hit him? I was surprised he finished the stage.

 

Sagan DQd from the Tour. Totally ridiculous punishment for a racing incident.

 

yikes!

 

Well damn! Didn't see that coming.

 

did he really get dq'd? Or is Cavendish's team just pleading their case?

 

It's real!!
http://www.espn.com/cycling/story/_...peter-sagan-disqualified-elbow-mark-cavendish

 

Remember this??

 

is there something Im missing? I havent seen any images that show he purposely put an elbow out...

 

Nothing missing. The officials in bicycle racing, especially in the TDF, repeatedly put their egos in front of fairness. Bunch of soft old boys who have no clue how brutal bicycle racing can be. Make some headlines instead of doing the right thing. I think this might permanently damage the race. It damages it for me.

 

Nevermind that Sagan was slightly ahead as Cavendish tried forcing his way past. as a rider you have to protect your space. We see it in motorcycle racing all the time. Plus Cavendish is known for his crappy sprint finishes. He's a hack.

 

So throw a red card and have the keeper come drag the flop up by the waistband.

 

Stupid ruling. What do they expect when they make the last 3k so narrow in the first place. Cavendish clearly was forcing the issue. What a bunch of crap.

 

You don't punish riders for racing incidents. This was a racing incident, and if you take the time to watch it, you will see that. The call to ban him was over the top.

 

You are soooo defensive. It was not a remark about you and what you do. Bicycle racing, especially crits and bunch sprints, is brutal. A certain amount of contact is expected. These guys head butt each other because they cant take their hands off the bars, and that had been acceptable in the past. This was a mere brush. Punishment did not fit the crime.