Watching the recap on OLN today and I saw little difference between the Bettini move and the moves that squeezed Pettachi and kept him from contesting the sprint in stage 2. The only difference is Pettachi let up to avoid going into the barrier and Baden Cooke didn’t and in the Stage two sprint the move was to the right of the road, not to the left and petacchi was two back, not following directly.
Oh well, it is done. On with the rest of the Giro.
Yea, but I think the judges had to relegate him after seeing the carnage. I still think any self respecting tough guy would have put that move to the curb. Interesting Bob Roll and company didn’t think Cookie had the speed to take the sprint. Today was pretty cool day on the big hill. Can hardly wait to see the TT Sunday. I still think Cunago is having an unreal ride so far.
Frank, it’s a standard tactic to close the door on opponents, you are correct. However, it’s hardly the behaviour of a confident rider more that of the coward who doesn’t think he can win fairly. This is why there are judges at finishline and Bettini got demoted to fourth and not disqualified. A fair and just decision IMO.
It is so much easier to win a bike race by turning the handlebars than it is by turning the pedals.
-SD
A very succinct summation, Dave. To the point and with the insight of a racer.
Thank you.
Remind me to not match sprint with Dave. Although he wouldn’t even have to turn the pedals that hard with me.
Nor would he against me!
The way I saw it Cooke should have seen the hole closing, and while Bettini closed it, the same thing is done 100 times in the last 5 km. When you force the issue someone falls.
No need to worry about bumping elbows with me fellas, I’m much more the student than the teacher.
-SD
I watched the spring too and Bettini did the wrong thing. He knew Cooke was there and just closed the door. Cooke was stupid to try to go through anyway.
Sure Pettachi does the same often but in general, the race organizers let the real sprinters do it, because they are flat out, head on the bars, eyes closed and elbows out (in short, they are all crazy) whereas the sprint of Bettini was still rather controlled and he could have avoided closing the door.
Real sprinters get away with it by pleading ‘temporary insanity’ 
I dont know, when I was racing if there was a threat at the sprint I had a team mate try to block them into the peloton, not run them off the road. BUT, I would be lieing if I said that I had never gone into a riders line when I had a wheel on him at the sprint…we are not there to make it easy on each other. I have to say that I did not see the deal here, just read about it and try to image the situation in my mind…
This is how you win a sprint. Right down the middle of the road.
Unfortunately, I’m not one who is able to ride solo or in those impressive long breakaways, it bugs me a bit that sprinters are simply just considered “crazy” and dangerous. It is a true skill and to me is just as impressive as a 200km breakaway a la David Zabriske’s '04 Vuelta and Jacky Durand’s exploits.
Why is it that riding alone and basically TTing to victory is more impressive that coming around 180 guys all trying to cut you off, hook you into the barriers, hand sling you to the back of the pack, whilst standing on the 54x11 at 70+ kph?
Training and genetics make a good TT rider, to be a good sprinter, those are just the first two of about 10 skills needed.
-SD
Oh, I sure wasn’t criticizing sprinters. I am completely unable to win a sprint in any bike race, even in cat IV/III I’d be schooled nicely (and of course, it doesn’t help to have my face at elbows height )
They have amazing bike skills. Being able to go around someone already riding 65km/h requires enormous power (most very top guys would put around 1600w for a few seconds).
I only win TTs or breakaway races when I race. If I am in a breakaway with one rider, I have nearly no chance to win.
Yes, it is a way to do it, and when you put 3 bikes lengths on second place you needn’t be concerned about closing any doors.
If this is the San Remo finish, I think Ale-jet basically bought his way to the front of this one paying aff a few teams to provide a lead out that no one could match, or see develop.
Not to knock Hushovd either, but it is unusual to see him in second when Zabel, Friere, etc. are in form.
-SD
yes. MSR. i think Fassa had the lead out down tight that day and just aren’t used to the Giro being so fast - it’s ratting them a bit. As for a payoff. Petacci still needed to get over the two hills to make it into the final selection and team or no team he was flying that day. all props to Ale-Jet for smoking the finish in Milan. he’ll get a stage at the Giro eventually - it’s just not as easy this year with all the Pro Tour teams there.