Voigt's protestations regarding this descent are rather ridiculous, and somewhat reminiscent of the Schlecks' objections at having to race downhill a few years ago. I think they lost time on this same road when Contador decided to go for it.
Most technical descents in mountainous terrain can be lethal if you make even just a small mistake in the wrong place at the wrong time. Croix de Fer, Glandon, Madeleine, Cormet de Roseland, Izoard, Allos etc are all littered with death (or race-changing) opportunities. And
any which don't have a big climb finish or long flat run-in to follow will be even more stressful in a race situation, not just the Col de Manse.
Head-first into a concrete wall or a rock face, tipping over a low wall or barrier into a ravine or over the edge of a bridge are all easily possible in countless places on many descents in cycling, so if professional riders want or feel compelled to race down them in a race of the Tour's stature, rather than protest about them they should:
- conduct a recce and pay attention on it and in any briefings
- consider and be aware of their ability and comfort zone
- take more care
- not behave like idiotic/inexperienced sportive riders (i.e. be more observant, adapt to the conditions, respect the other riders)
It's perfectly possible to still blitzkrieg a descent, and maintain sporting ethics and televisual spectacle, whilst observing the above. Calling for descents to be avoided, or no descents close to a finish, is nonsense when it's within the riders' own control how much risk they take. Does he disagree with the Poggio in Milan San-Remo too?
