2020 pro-cycling / Tour de France thread

[AlexB]

I’m not going to post the video, as i saw it live on TV and it was horrifying, but there was one of the worst crashes I have ever seen in cycling today.

Fabio Jakobsen, the Dutch national champion, was forced into the barriers by his compatriot Dylan van Groenewegen in a high speed downhill sprint.

Jakobsen went head over heels off his bike, his helmet came off mid somersault, and he collided with a combination of the barriers, a photographer and the scaffolding that supports the finish arch.

I nearly posted at the time that I thought he might not make it, but didn’t want to be melodramatic. However, he is in a medically induced coma with severe head injuries and had to be resuscitated a number of times before being moved to hospital.

Very sad chain of events, totally the fault of van Groenewegen dangerously squeezing Jakobsen out, and hopefully he can pull through.

[MIJB#19]

I haven't seen the images, yet. Groenewegen already disqualified, might possibly be suspended, but his story should be minor for now. Mixed reports on Jakobsen's situation, some say he's 'fighting for his life', others that his situation is 'stable'.

[AlexB]

Fabio Jakobsen fighting for his life after crash, says doctor who treated him - Cycling - Eurosport

Severe cranial injury, broken palate (crushed larynx? Edit - no, it’s a broken lower jaw) and heavy blood loss

Eurosport bill themselves as ‘the home of cycling’ and is a source I trust to make sure that their source is credible.

[MIJB#19]

Fwiw, I'm going by the leading (Dutch) sports reporting tv/radio channel NOS. That was the latest from about 30 minutes ago. NOS isn't the best source for cycling stuff (their race reporters are amateurs compared to the Belgians), but they're not as horrifically bad like CNN in making wild assumptions before checking facts through actual sources. usually I get my cycling news from the Belgian Sporza, but they have no updates, despite that Jakobsen rides for a Belgian team.

[bhlloy]

I have no desire to watch this, but it's amazing these situations don't happen more in sprints. The race doctor statement sounds really bad, sadly doesn't sound like much hope of a good outcome here reading between the lines.

Btw Alex, Eurosport can't be viewed in the US (it literally says "Eurosport is not available in your region" on the homepage and linked article)

[NobodyHere]

The link works for me

[bhlloy]

Dunno what to tell you. It's the same for me on my work laptop (on VPN that puts me in the PNW), cellphone and here on my desktop. Maybe a west coast thing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Loaded for me too (east coast)

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

Dunno what to tell you. It's the same for me on my work laptop (on VPN that puts me in the PNW), cellphone and here on my desktop. Maybe a west coast thing.

Yea. It was a no go for me. Interesting.

[bhlloy]

Sounds like Eurosport is doing some wacky geolocation. Anyway, apologies from taking away from the thread and the serious topic.

The team statement does sound a little more hopeful - no brain or spinal injury detected so far.

[AlexB]

Just came to post a more encouraging update this morning which seems to echo many of the articles from late last night

Tour de Pologne organisers 'feared the worst' for Jakobsen after stage 1 crash | Cyclingnews

[whomario]

Not saying there was no individual blame or anything, but as is often the case i think anopther issue is again a larger one. For one the sprints are inherently insane and punishment for offenses seem erratic (sometimes decently harsh, but not always) and for another this finish in particular is ludicrous with the downward trajectory involved and thus having even higher speeds. Too often you have organisers go for the spectacular finish, sometimes for mere visual effects.

Hope he comes out somwhat ok ...

[MIJB#19]

The Tour of Poland has been the most dangerous race in the World Tour since it got added to it. Yes, what Groenewegen did was horrible, but the effect is much worse because of this race is terribly organized. This incident reminded me why I had trouble watching bunch sprints in this particular race in the past.

[AlexB]

A couple of encouraging updates about Jakobsen being successfully woken from his coma, including this one.

Fabio Jakobsen to be brought out of induced coma this afternoon - Cycling Weekly

But if the facial injuries reported here are correct... OMFG. All facial bones broken, and all teeth lost? JFC

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by AlexB

A couple of encouraging updates about Jakobsen being successfully woken from his coma, including this one.

Fabio Jakobsen to be brought out of induced coma this afternoon - Cycling Weekly

But if the facial injuries reported here are correct... OMFG. All facial bones broken, and all teeth lost? JFC

Not mentioned in that article is the shattered trachea (I had to look this work up, it sounds much more medical in English). It's unimaginable how big the impact on his face must have been on that crash.

[Critch]

Not sure how to share Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1293954703794077697

Criterium du Dauphine and get hit by a hailstorm. Looks painful.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Critch

Not sure how to share Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1293954703794077697

Criterium du Dauphine and get hit by a hailstorm. Looks painful.











[Critch]

Thank you.

I'd post a thumbs up smiley, but I don't know how to do that either.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Critch

Thank you.

I'd post a thumbs up smiley, but I don't know how to do that either.

A thumbs up for blocked content?

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by MIJB#19

A thumbs up for blocked content?

It's just that your ISP or country hates you.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

It's just that your ISP or country hates you.

Last I checked, I didn't live in China, Russia or Turkey. It must be on the hosting end not wanting to share things with people in a friendly country. Eh, so be it. I've seen pictures of the riders stuck in that hailstorm.

[britrock88]

Interesting final stage today. Seems the French are just profoundly unlucky.

[PilotMan]

Nobody commented on this?

https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status...0%2Fframe.html

[kingfc22]

Just saw it this morning. Absolutely clueless

[tarcone]

Tour de France will sue fan who caused weekend pileup

That person is screwed. They dont know who it is though.

[NobodyHere]

I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen more often.

[Ghost Econ]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Tour de France will sue fan who caused weekend pileup

That person is screwed. They dont know who it is though.

It's waldo. They just have to find him in the next page.

[Critch]

Bad day for crashes today too. Geraint Thomas fell, dislocated his shoulder, they popped it back on, stuck him back on his bike and he caught up with the peleton. Caleb Ewan not as "lucky", broken collarbone and out.

[AlexB]

I’d be surprised to see Roglic tomorrow TBH as well - that looked nasty

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen more often.

That was the most moronic person on the side of rode of a cycling race I have seen since I started watching cycling on tv in 1993. And that includes the thousands of lunatics in the mountain stages in all kinds of big and small races. This person is the miss universe of idiocy.

Second place of the stupidity of the first 3 days goes to the organization, they were actually proud to set today's course, including the nerve increasing final kilometers that results in several incidents. Blech.

[bhlloy]

Absolute carnage. That was not much fun to watch. On the second big crash (not the Roglic one), very lucky there weren't more serious injuries including spectators.

[AlexB]

I’m not crying, it’s just something in my eye

[Critch]

Originally Posted by AlexB

I’m not crying, it’s just something in my eye

Won the stage and then used the f-word on the live tv post-race interview. Living the dream.

[Edward64]

Obviously unintended (and I'm sure she feels terrible) but she should be held accountable somehow.

The woman who allegedly held out a banner causing the crash of dozens of cyclists during the first stage of the Tour de France last Saturday has been identified and is undergoing police questioning, the Brest prosecutor's office told CNN.

The accident happened 45 kilometers from the finish of the first stage of the race on Saturday -- from Brest to Landerneau -- when a female spectator on the side of the road held up a big sign which caused the pile up.

It's not evident what she meant to say on the sign which said 'ALLEZ OPI-OMI !' in French and German, which translates to 'Go Grandma and Grandpa.'

[bhlloy]

Welp, barring an accident this one is over. And I almost even posted that after the first TT given how dominant Pogacar looked.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by AlexB

I’d be surprised to see Roglic tomorrow TBH as well - that looked nasty

I was a few days premature. Fair play to him for trying to ride on

[britrock88]

As someone who's following a few days behind (thanks, Baby), if the Pogacar dominance becomes tiresome, remember how fun the first week of racing was.

[bhlloy]

I think I might be able to win a stage of the TDF with this lead out train that Cavendish has right now

[AlexB]

Think you're having a bad day? Think again. Eduard Prades thought he'd won stage one of the #TourOfHellas today, and had hit the floor before being told he was 2nd...�� pic.twitter.com/6nO2azTaEh

— GCN Racing (@GcnRacing) April 27, 2022

[britrock88]

Anyone else enjoying the Giro so far? Nice to have a Grand Tour without an overwhelming favorite...

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by britrock88

Anyone else enjoying the Giro so far? Nice to have a Grand Tour without an overwhelming favorite...

This has a Richard Carapaz victory written all over.

[AlexB]

Quite possibly. Bardet’s looking the best I’ve seen him for a while too (maybe because there is no Pogacar, Roglic, Bernal, etc)

Landa looks good so far too TBF, but he always blows up at some point

[Critch]

Originally Posted by britrock88

Anyone else enjoying the Giro so far? Nice to have a Grand Tour without an overwhelming favorite...

Is it on tv? I tried downloading the UK nightly highlights show for the first few stages but fell behind.

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by Critch

Is it on tv? I tried downloading the UK nightly highlights show for the first few stages but fell behind.

GCN+ has coverage (full, extended highlights, short highlights) on a $8/mo or $50/year subscription. (I highly recommend--they have pretty solid coverage. See How to watch pro cycling in the US in 2022 - CyclingTips )

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by AlexB

Quite possibly. Bardet’s looking the best I’ve seen him for a while too (maybe because there is no Pogacar, Roglic, Bernal, etc)

Landa looks good so far too TBF, but he always blows up at some point

Bardet abandons today through stomach issues. He was looking so good…

[Critch]

Originally Posted by britrock88

GCN+ has coverage (full, extended highlights, short highlights) on a $8/mo or $50/year subscription. (I highly recommend--they have pretty solid coverage. See How to watch pro cycling in the US in 2022 - CyclingTips )

Thanks, I thought about getting GCN+ earlier in the year but the lack of an Apple TV app put me off. At least I'm set for Tour de France and Vuelta on Peacock.

[Critch]

Already seems like it's in the bag for Pogacar unless he breaks something in a fall. Too many of the people who could in theory challenge are too old, injured or not good enough.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Critch

Already seems like it's in the bag for Pogacar unless he breaks something in a fall. Too many of the people who could in theory challenge are too old, injured or not good enough.

The Monday rest days could be the most dangerous days for Tadej Pogacar, he still has to dodge COVID-19 for 2 more weeks.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by Critch

Already seems like it's in the bag for Pogacar unless he breaks something in a fall. Too many of the people who could in theory challenge are too old, injured or not good enough.

I’m no cycling enthusiast but to me it just seems like the other teams are afraid to attack.

[bhlloy]

This has been an incredible stage. I thought Pogacar was invincible… could be third by a distance tonight.