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When push comes to shove
Last Post 03/22/2017 08:33 PM by Cosmic Kid. 5 Replies.
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79pmooney

Posts:3189

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03/22/2017 11:49 AM
The Moviestar TTT fiasco.

http://www.velonews.com/2017/03/news/uci-docks-entire-movistar-team-bmc-wins-catalunya-ttt_433309

http://www.velonews.com/2017/03/news/movistar-just-hacked-ttts-uci-needs-patch_433280

I grudgingly think UCI got it right although I think they could tweak their rules a little.  I watched the YT of one of the pushes.  Just a little bump to let the rider drifting back to slot in ahead of Rojas.  Routine road paceline stuff.  Good paceline skills and paceline etiquette.  But in a TTT, that tiny push is both a godsend for the rider drifting back and it eliminates the biggest challenge of the entire TTT experience - getting back in line and back to speed. Also sets a poor precedent.  Teams like Sky could designate one of their sprinters to just stay at the back and push.

The rule tweak?  Why not give the judges a little discretion on the amount of the penalty.  1 minute to allot the Moviestar riders is a little steep.  30 seconds would be plenty here given how small the pushes were.

I like that Valverde showed up today and made a statement with his riding.

Ben
longslowdistance

Posts:2886

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03/22/2017 01:20 PM
Whoa, didn't even know that was a no-no.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/22/2017 01:44 PM
Complete overreach, IMO....as noted,it was a small nudge to get the rider to take that slot in the paceline instead of going all the way to the back.

Penalize the rider who gave the "push", the one who got it a few seconds and call it good. a one minute for the entire team is ridiculous, IMO.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
79pmooney

Posts:3189

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03/22/2017 02:55 PM
I don't agree, CK. TTTing is a team dance Everyone works together in a way that is far cleaner than your messy peloton. The teams that practice and do the dance well should be rewarded for it. BMC. TI Raleigh back in the day. Teams that take shortcuts should be penalized as a team. I do think a minute was a little much.

Without those nudges, Moviestar's paceline might have been a little more ragged, very likely costing them more than the 2 seconds, the win and costing BMC (and their sponsor) their moment in the sun.

Ben
longslowdistance

Posts:2886

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03/22/2017 03:26 PM
I still ask: Why is it illegal?
I can see why pushing a teammate in a field sprint or up a climb in a mass start is not fair, but TTT is different sort of event.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/22/2017 08:33 PM
I think context matters here....neither rider seemed like they were on the "ragged edge" as it were. It was just a gentle nudge that said "hey, jump in line here, not after me." It wasn't a move to keep a guy in the line that was heading out the back....everyone seemed within their limits.

Now, if it was the 5th guy left in the rotation and he was hanging on for grim death so they could finish with 5 riders and get a time, I would take a different stance.

Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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