Whether it had anything to do with it or not, Jumbo’s decision to use the adjustable tire pressure system is going to be judged very harshly now. 2 flats at the absolute worst possible times completely changed the race for them. First with losing La Porte then Wout.
I don’t know that they actually used the system….and I would highly doubt that Wout or La Porte used it, even if others on the team did.
But definitely a bad day for Vittoria on the durability front….but Roubaix is a pretty extreme test for any equipment.
Pretty sure Alpecin on Vittoria
Christophe Laporte. Even though he was shown the door today, he rode a great race.
I see what you did there and I a…dore it.
Just watched the highlights due to stupid geo blocking.
Looks like a super aggressive race. Stoked for MVdP!
Yeap and no fault of his own.
MVP takes him out by going in a gap that is not there, IMO. Watch 6hr 5mins in of the GCN coverage, and make up your own mind.
That result leaves a bitter taste for me, I guess shit happens but that was rough, it happened so fast.
Wout didn’t
La Porte did
Geo blocking? Get a vpn - seriously, $74 for 2 years and it all opens up
The gap was there when he went for it and then it closed 1/2 second later. Just bad luck.
Have you watched it again?
If you have fair enough, I have imo, no gap, well there was but is gets closed as Philipsen comes across MvP…
I watched the replay multiple times. MVDP went for the gap. Just as he is halfway through, Philipsen moved over which caused MVDP to tangle up with Degenkolb. It was just an unfortunate accident. There was no ill will. Philipsen actually almost caused his team leader to go down right there. If there is any fault, it’s with Philipsen.
Felt like we were headed towards an all-time classic edition with that group of seven going to the finale…but a crash and a flat changed that.
Definitely a deserving winner - but any from that group would have been. I’d much prefer to see what happened without the crash and flat, but not to be. Such is the sport
ETA: Regarding the crash - I see it as a racing incident, there was a gap when he started on the line. Brutal outcome for Degenkolb makes me sad more than angry
I can agree with that take.
Certainly zero fault on Degenkolbs behalf, which is why the result (of the incident) leaves a bit of a bitter taste for me.
That’s PR though. That same thing could have happened to anyone anywhere along that course.
Unfortunate, of course, but PR has always been very much about who runs into the least amount of trouble along the way. When riders are trying to find even a second of respite this happens.
At first view it looked worse than it was. On replay it was clear it was just an unfortunate chain of events and Degenkolb was at the end of that chain.
I’m patiently waiting for GCN+ to regain the rights to all the races.
Only Flanders, Paris Roubaix, TdF really left with hopeless SkyTV.
I saw WVA take a bottle twice then toss it immediately after taking it. I am assuming it is because the gel came off?
I think he was looking for water and getting carbs or vis a versa. One time he definitely took the gel from the bottle and then tossed it.
Tough to say if it was an error or not. I know he was immediately on the radio after one bottle and still tossed the next so
The small “gap” that may have been there was closed very quickly. He could have braked and with the exact same results except not taking out Degenkolb. Obviously, hindsight is 20/20. I think MDVP is great, but that was just a poor choice in judgement. I was impressed that Degenkolb still got 7th overall after that crash. What a warrior!
Th3e is zero fault on anyone in the crash that took out Degenkolb….just a racing incident the likes of which can happen at Paris-Roubaix.
Phillipsen got bumped off his line, which pushed him right…that caused MVP to react and go right to avoid him just as Degenkolb was coming up on the side.
Not everything has to have someone to blame…sometimes schitt just happens.