Posted on Cyclingnews, a truck pulled out on a course and got in the way of a break-away. In this photo it appears a competitor is giving the driver a “salute.” Let’s assume it was the salute, should the rider be penalized/disqualified for this behaviour? We all would agree truck should not have been there and RD has some accountability, but in this instance this is an individual decision made by the rider in the moment. Does the rider deserve a consequence?
Yes, I would penalize the cyclist. I’m not sure what the USA cycling rules are for this (and I am too lazy to look), but I would have to believe that he should be disqualified and not permitted to start the next day.
Even though the truck driver was wrong, the rider shouldn’t be “saluting” the driver. Many years ago, a race series that was very popular ended up being canceled because a driver did something similar and got “saluted” by several riders. It turned out that the driver was a VP from the company who opened up their facitlies to host the events. Needless to say the race series came to a very abrupt halt and it took years before races were able to be held there again.
We need to be aware that some of our knee jerk reactions can have far lasting consequences.
Allow me to ask the obvious: why on earth are they not taking advantage of that Mack truck to draft off? They could ride that thing to a 30 minute stage victory!
Yes he did break the rules. From the USA Cycling rulebook:
1O. Conduct
1O5. Abuse.
(a) No rider or licensee may be disrespectful toward organizers, officials, riders or spectators .
(b) No rider or licensee may use foul or abusive language or conduct during a race event .
So he should not only be disqualified, he should also be suspended for 15 days.
Isn’t it only in the U.S. that giving the finger means anything. I know I will be living abroad for 4 months and have been told that it is meaningless over there they have there own gestures.
Allow me to ask the obvious: why on earth are they not taking advantage of that Mack truck to draft off? They could ride that thing to a 30 minute stage victory!
That’s what I was wondering, too!
You are absolutely correct. Even if there wasn’t a rule against it, this kind of behavior shouldn’t be tolerated by racers. Shouldn’t be tolerated on group rides, either, as it only serves to further the rift between motorists and cyclists. Hell, a couple of days ago in my car, I honked at a lycra-clad (and helmetless I might add) cyclist who didn’t think that the red light at which I was stopped applied to him. He didn’t seem to understand what I was honking about. Not sure if he saw my triathlon bike in the back of the car.
Every time we throw a leg over that top tube, we are ambassadors for cycling. We should behave accordingly.
I heard a story recently about Derek Jeter, the Hall of Fame-to-be shortstop for the NY Yankees. He was out and about with some friends and received some abuse or other from someone. He walked away. When asked why he didn’t confront the jerk, he indicated that you never know when someone has a camera, and he doesn’t want some bad image of himself to be on the back cover of tomorrow’s NY Daily News. Smart.
Isn’t it only in the U.S. that giving the finger means anything. I know I will be living abroad for 4 months and have been told that it is meaningless over there they have there own gestures.
I might be way off thats just what I heard.
I think that most people from most countries will get the general idea! :->
I have seen the single finger salute used in several european countries with no loss of meaning. Although for prolonged stays in any country it may be worth doing some research to develop a truly effective insulting and abusive (yet simple) hand gesture for those special moments.
Because the truck had just pulled out in front of them and was going much, much, much slower than they were. They were swerving to avoid hitting it because it was going so slow.
Actually if you look very closely, the rider to the right of the truck is gesturing with an open palm which I take as the You-Have-Got-To-Be-Kidding-Me or Are-You-Nuts gesture, which in this instance is perfectly valid and as far as I know there is no punishment for such a gesture. I actually use the open palm gesture quite a bit when out cycling. I refrain completely from the middle-finger salute, because it’s rude and for some, it’s exactly the response they are looking for so I figure why give it to them.
In fact, as a race director, disqualify him for some length of time in excess of what the rules specify and let the cyclist protest to the cycling/triathlon federation that the penalty is excessive and let the federation show their “balls” or lack thereof in support of the race director, the sport and the abusive behavior of the rider.
Have the courage to make an emphatic statement that such behavior is unsportsman like, unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Do nothing and watch as more and more participants begin to behave like assholes giving the sport and cyclists by association a bad name as poster children for bad behavior.
Can’t really tell whether the guy is flippin’ the bird or not - did you see the photo BEFORE the one you linked? I’d be pissed off too.
Maybe a warning or penalty but not a DQ unless they can prove he flipped the guy off, which is just not good for cycling, permit processes, etc.
And whoever posted the USAC rules, there is always smack talk and words in the peloton and it’s only rarely enforced. I was flipped off once in a race and called an asshole cause I wouldn’t pull Chase II group when my team had one in the break and 2 guys in Chase 1 already. I attacked anyway and tried to bridge solo and the guy was just furious. Tough shit for him for missing the breaks and I just ignored his antics and did what was best for the team. Did I turn him in and whine about it - no, we chatted later and made the rest of the race a training day.
In Norcal, a guy in the 35+ was DQ’d once for striking someone and then it happened again and he got suspended for 9 months, which is good. Sad thing is the guys is still a hothead and I would not be surprised if it happens again - they should have included some anger management courses.
