longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 07/04/2017 10:47 AM |
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Relegate Sagan or give him a pass? Looks like a close call to me.
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DonnaMobile
Posts:71
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| 07/04/2017 10:56 AM |
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| If you just see the video it certainly looks like Sagan's elbow caused Cav to crash. However, the Italian network showed a photo that shows Sagan's elbow out, but with Cav already fallen halfway to the pavement. That plus Sagan's contorted body position seemed to indicate that he was trying to keep his balance after being touched (by Cav?). The Italian experts (including Ale-Jet Petacchi) are of that opinion. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 07/04/2017 11:01 AM |
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| The aussie commentators on NBCSN gold also said the elbow looked like an attempt to keep his balance AFTER Cav started going down. But he did not keep his line. Tough call. If he took out a Frenchman, it would be easier . . . |
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DonnaMobile
Posts:71
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| 07/04/2017 11:11 AM |
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| However, former pro Silvio Martinello disagrees and says Sagan called Cav to fall. They also noted that Demare deviated from his line and could have caused Bouhanni to crash. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 07/04/2017 11:25 AM |
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| They relegated him. Seems reasonable. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/04/2017 11:47 AM |
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| Definitely Sagan's at fault and he's lucky they keep him in race. Its not just the elbow, he basically runs Cav off the road. Pretty cut and dry. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 07/04/2017 01:53 PM |
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Wow, they threw him out.
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 07/04/2017 04:31 PM |
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Looking at the slo-mo replays, and frame-by-frame it looks like Cav doing what he does best... trying to stick his bike where it won't fit. He's done this with impunity time and time gain without consequence and now Sagan gets tossed!?! Stupid call. Tour, you're dead to me!
Bring on the Vuelta |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/04/2017 04:42 PM |
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Funny how Sunweb DS warned team about Sagan pre-stage after a triple hit on Bling Matthews yesterday during intermediate stage. Greipel had also been on receiving end. Something was brewing with Sagan.
My only real question is why the initial relegation and points penalty got turned into a full DQ. What happened in the half hour between, what changed their mind? ASO, UCI or did race jury decide to set the example the said they were going to set. |
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Allez Allez
Posts:3
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| 07/04/2017 05:21 PM |
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A couple of things:
Look at Cav's head in relation to Sagan's torso.
Track Cav's wheels as they move towards Sagan (not after contact, when Cav is tilting away, but before)
Look at Sagan's knees, and how they swing away, to his left, away from Cav.
Sagan is REACTING to contact, not creating it. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 07/04/2017 07:00 PM |
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I agree. More cycling capriciousness.
If Sagan was French . . .
With no real leadout train, Sagan has been a privateer for years, grabbing wheels and shooting for holes as best he could. And he could very well.
Perhaps it caught up with him today?
I would take this better if Sagan was a jerk, like the young Cav (not the current Cav who is a class act.) But Sagan is not a jerk.
Unhappy fan.
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 07/04/2017 07:08 PM |
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I think a lot of these comments must have been made before Sagan was interviewed. He went immediately to apologize to Cav so he knew he was a bad boy.
the original call was points and $$ but the comms later found more information and decided to increase the penalty. I am sad to read this as Sagan is just so popular. I just hope he was not victim of the he is so popular that in order to show fairness we DQ him sort of logic. |
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Nick A
Posts:625
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| 07/04/2017 07:10 PM |
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| Put me in the too close to call camp... However, it seems that crashing in sprints is becoming too common. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 07/04/2017 07:38 PM |
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I'm not a Sagan fan, but I am surprised by this decision. Not saying Sagan is blameless, but Cav was definitely trying to squeeze into a slot that was rapidly closing. Initial contact seems to Ave been caused by Cav, but Sagan definitely flicked him. I think the question is whether it was self-preservation or malice?
Unfortunately, we'll never know...all we can do is speculate. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 07/04/2017 11:47 PM |
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| Exactly Master50. Sagan isn't exactly the apologetic type. There's only one scenario where he makes those apologies. |
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