[photosbymark]

This is the first time I have really followed the Tour, and frankly the word cluster comes to mind more than what I expected.

First is the lack of crowd control along the race course. Now that really isn't unique to bike racing. Off road desert racing and rally cars do it that way all the time as well. What is crazy is how many spectators can not seem to use any kind of common sense and stay off the race course. It really isn't rocket science guys. Yet so far two spectators have caused crashes that were both major and I think caused injuries. The crash that had most of the peleton down was caused by a spectator in the way. Yet they are at least not a part of the event.

The TV crews and photographers are and they have caused two crashes this years as well. The TV crew camera car hitting a rider and sending two into a barbed wire fence is simply inexcusable. The there was the wreck between camera motorbike and another rider sending the ride down. How many people have had their race affected because of these two incidents I don't know, but these are people that should KNOW better.

The hospitals are way too busy with broken bones. Some were real racing incidents. A bike that gets away from you on descent is just a part of racing, particularly if its wet or in changing conditions. If you push performance, you will push it too far once in a while. Yet if the injuries of this week are any indication of normal, I am afraid this is going to be like motorcycle racing for me. I won't watch motorcycle racing because there are too many injuries that are too severe.

I am also amused at what they called the abandoned list. No one abandoned anything. Most couldn't go on because they were hurt. You can't ride with a broken collarbone or wrist. What I am amazed at is how those two guys that went into the fence as a result of the crash with the camera car managed to finish the stage. I can't see how they can start the next, and being competitive is out of the question.

Frankly there are way too many cars on the course in the first place. Frankly I think it gets in the way of the racing. Though it must have been done this way for a long time, making riders do their own maintenance during the race would add a whole new dimension to the event. You stay on the bike you start the stage with, and if it breaks, the rider fixes it. Have a flat? They fix it just like we do. Have a problem with a chain, wheel or anything else, and the rider fixes that too or retires.

Maybe we can rename this the Tour de Crash, but thankfully a rest day will give a few people a chance to maybe keep going. So many riders have worked so hard, and to have their race ruined this early because the organizers didn't do their job is to a newbe appalling.

[Poolie]

Glad I'm not the only one that thinks that.

[rola643]

Tour 2011 - Car Crash

[photosbymark]

A day off isn't going to help those wounds. And I thought the IRL was lousy.

[thecyclops]

YouTube - ‪Johnny Hoogerland Crash.mp4‬‏

YouTube - ‪Johnny Hoogerland Crash.mp4‬‏

[Nigal]

I wanna see people walking the track in NASCAR.

I don't know why but even though I love cycling I really don't care for the racing; for many of the same reasons Mark pointed out. And from all I've seen, read and heard it seems like a very unhealthy sport.

[photosbymark]

Don't get me wrong. I love competition. I really enjoy seeing the best of the best put their machine and themselves to the test against each other. From airplanes to go carts, like it or not its competition that drives this world.

So much of what I see has so little to do with the actual competition. IF your sole role on the teams is to keep someone else from crashing, you don't belong in the race. The idea of a number 1 rider being protected to me is nonsense. Everyone in the pack getting the same time is just as crazy. If its because of the pack being too big and the crashes too bad, don't have so many riders on the road.

Sad thing is most of the injuries are caused by being in a pack of so many riders. The race would be so much better if they would take only the teams number 1, or maybe 1 and 2, and let them race. Instead of 300, a solid competition among 50 would really be something to see. Do 50 have a realistic chance of winning in that 300?? Certainly not more than that.

George Hincappe maybe as nice a guy as you would ever want to meet in cycling. From the interviews I have heard on podcasts he has exhibited absolutely nothing but class. His experience is vast and valuable, and Phil has more than once recognized his contribution to BMC for the race strategy. But why does he need to be on a bike to do that?

Now people walking the track isn't a race day adventure, that is unless its a charity walk. I do remember some years ago though a race start had to be delayed. Someone stole the pace car and decided to make a few laps. It took a while for the police to catch the guy. Can you believe it??? There was alcohol present in the infield at Talladega. Who would have ever thought that???

[kneedrachen]

NASCAR= Non-Athletic Sport Created About Rednecks....

[Shocks_Pegs_LUCKY]

Yikes! That looks awful. I skinned my hip to the bone in a longboarding accident once. THAT was painful.

[bmohan55]

so was this...of course I didn't get back on the bike for about a month, let alone finish the ride!