Just got my new World Cycling Productions catalogue and noticed Phil Ligett compiled a DVD with the World’s “Greatest” Crashes. I know we all have may a morbid fascination watching a crash during a UCI race, but I also know that as athletes, we’re a superstitious lot. So my question is this: Would purchasing this DVD put one in a state of karmic peril and thus increase one’s likelihood of sustaining a crash?
Happy Monday!
Prolly. You do what you see. Just the same, I agree with you. It is morbidly fascinating to watch Abdoujaparov careen into the barriers at 40 m.p.h. and then bowl a strike on the entire field. At least I can watch knowing I’ve fallen off my bike a few times too, so I’ve kind of earned the right I guess, as well as all of us who have hit the pavement.
all of us who have hit the pavement.
If only I had a dollar for every time…
Shut up. Shut Up! La la la la- I can’t hear you. 
Must think good thoughts. Must think good thoughts.
Worst Crashes - That Abdoujaparov crash during the final rush to the line on The Champs Elysee at the 19XX Tour De France has to be right up there as one of the most best/worst/most-spectacular, no question! Very Scary. I only saw it once, but I don’t think that I would want to ever see it or crashes like it again.
WCP features the Abdoujaparov crash as a main reason to buy the DVD:
“… including the unforgettable crash of Abdoujaparov’s on the finish line of the Tour de France where he looks like a rag doll sliding across the pavement”
The copy continues …
“… in glorious full speed and super slow motion for continued viewing”
:::fingers in ears::: La-la-la-la think positive thoughts 
Hey Erik, given my track record back in '89 and '90 I probably took you out at least once. I can remember one streak where I crashed in seven races in a row, all on the last lap, all in the final corner looking for that one big move to get me into a winning position. I haven’t done a criterium in years. None of mine could ever hold a candle to Abdu hitting the big Coke can barrier and doing a yard sale into the entire field sprint at the Tour.
Hey Erik, given my track record back in '89 and '90 I probably took you out at least once.
Very possible. Although most of the crashes I remember being personally involved in were races you were announcing. Hmmm. I do remember a road race in Ann Arbor that I think only existed for a year or two. It went down Huron River Drive for part of it… I think you and I were both in that race. For some strange reason, I seem to remember you crashing. Ah, the good old days.
It’s a safe bet. I either went down or did pretty good. Probably good I went back to triathlons.
Any race that Dave McCook was in and he didn’t win you’d bet he hit the deck. Like Tom he had the crash or win mentallity for a number of years. As silly as that sounds, I’d always find his wheel with 3 or 4 to go knowing that he could get me to the front (or the deck) as the case was in '97 at the Rock Island Crit. Nate Reiss of the USPS was going into turn 7 or a 8 turn crit and Dave just divebombed his front wheel taking Nate, me, and the next 40 riders or so into those terrible orange snow fences. It was a big mess, and actually quite funny about 90 minutes later. There is a WCP coverage of a crash from a derny race at the '96 or '95 worlds that is pretty spectacular. The motorpaced rider actually took out his own motor at about 80kph. Totally trashed the wood velodrome, the rider suffered the worst burns you could imagine with his skinsuit melted right into his flesh.
Yum.
I agree tho, Abdu is up there, Jalabert had a field sprint crash that ended his green jersey days also.