Why Are There So Many Crashes Now! In Road Racing ?

[bitsandbobs]

If ever you needed more proof of just how many Crashes there are today ? then take a look at the Tour De France that has just started! View attachment 595894

Something must be wrong with today's riders! ?




A.R.B View attachment 595895

You sound rather pleased with yourself.

 

[Adam4868]

Crashing on average in every race 50% of the time!

Lol....yea right 🙄

 

[Anthony.R.Brown]

Not exactly pleased with myself! more like I would be as angry as F# if I was one of the riders,riding today and had to put up with such riders around me one race after another! Ok the first was by some idiot spectator ? but take another look at all the races in Europe etc. and see the same examples! one Crash after another!

 

[rogerzilla]

I can't find stats just for pro road racing, but I believe deaths from crashes have increased too this century, although there are probably fewer races. The numbers are small so it's hard to pinpoint a cause.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Not exactly pleased with myself! more like I would be as angry as F# if I was one of the riders,riding today and had to put up with such riders around me one race after another! Ok the first was by some idiot spectator ? but take another look at all the races in Europe etc. and see the same examples! one Crash after another!

I think the question you want to ask is if there is way to reduce the number of crashes. The answer would be yes but there is also the mindset of a dinosaur minority that its is part of the Pro Cycling lore. Similar to doping until they were embarrassed into submission.Had to take the Americans and a handful of responsible cycling journalists to make that change.

Can road furniture be better marshalled, can barriers standards especially near the finish meet better standards, can marshalling fans be improved. Within the race, penalties are there that can be imposed on riders. Seen improvements over the years but I guess more can be done.

I however don't think it will come close to F1 improvements since Ayrton's crash. Pro Cycling magic is the large number of riders, the narrow roads and tactics used. Reduce the number of riders and the magic goes. Yes, more can still be done in other respects.

 

[roadrash]

Still no excuses! So called modern day Road racing cyclists with all their technology Crashing on average in every race 50% of the time!




A.R.B

let me see if i have got this right ...if you are riding along in the peleton and someone smacks you in the face with a placard then its your own fault unbelievable
after over ten years on cyclechat i have just found my first reason for using the ignore function

 

[nickyboy]

Purely anecdotally it seems that most of the big crashes are as a result of touches of wheels, riders losing control...rather than road furniture.

Modern day cyclists are faster and better organised to fight for their position in the peleton.

I only see more crashes in the future, not less

Interestingly this doesn't reflect in the betting odds properly. There is very little recognition of the likelyhood of favourites crashing out which happens on a regular basis. Look at last year's Giro when Geoghan-Hart won

 

[Dogtrousers]

Interestingly this doesn't reflect in the betting odds properly. There is very little recognition of the likelyhood of favourites crashing out which happens on a regular basis. Look at last year's Giro when Geoghan-Hart won

I'm sure the bookies know what they are doing

 

[Anthony.R.Brown]

The main difference with today's Cyclists & Motorists is mentality! everyone today thinks they are something special,and that they are the centre of attention and that everyone is looking at them well they need to get off their high stools and look around sometimes at what is really happening,and this is where the main difference comes in,in the past Cyclists & Motorists looked ahead and around themselves for any problems that might occur and tried their best to avoid the situations,nowadays it is the opposite Cyclists & Motorists think everyone is looking at what they are doing and expect them to avoid their mistakes!

 

[Adam4868]

The main difference with today's Cyclists & Motorists is mentality! everyone today thinks they are something special,and that they are the centre of attention and that everyone is looking at them well they need to get off their high stools and look around sometimes at what is really happening,and this is where the main difference comes in,in the past Cyclists & Motorists looked ahead and around themselves for any problems that might occur and tried their best to avoid the situations,nowadays it is the opposite Cyclists & Motorists think everyone is looking at what they are doing and expect them to avoid their mistakes!

So this was a discussion about cyclists in general ? Not pro cyclists....glad that's cleared up.

 

[Arrowfoot]

Purely anecdotally it seems that most of the big crashes are as a result of touches of wheels, riders losing control...rather than road furniture.

Modern day cyclists are faster and better organised to fight for their position in the peleton.

I only see more crashes in the future, not less

Interestingly this doesn't reflect in the betting odds properly. There is very little recognition of the likelyhood of favourites crashing out which happens on a regular basis. Look at last year's Giro when Geoghan-Hart won

Touching wheels is an occupational hazard of the sport. I do remember that disc brakes were not acceptable because it was one of the issues in a peloton. The second crash was B&B rider touching UAE rider on descent at speed. Not sure how we can fix it.

Furniture and fans on the others hand can be handled better to bring down the overall number of crashes. One possibility is perimeter outsiders (right and left) so that the path is clear. The motorcycle camera guys are there because of the broadcasting value. There are also other escort riders for breakaway leaders but not perimeter or boundary outriders for the peloton. I am sure it would hardly cost a dent to protect the peloton.

Imagine Jumbo Visma, leading in the front right, brought down on the very first stage. It could have wiped out their stars, sponsors investment, fans aspirations.

UCI also needs to compile and release detailed crash data yearly so everyone knows the cost. Not bury their hands in the sand and say the crashes been there since Tom was a boy.

 

[Anthony.R.Brown]

So this was a discussion about cyclists in general ? Not pro cyclists....glad that's cleared up.

Well it's in the Pro Cycling section so I am sure everyone understands ? or do we have to look again and avoid their mistakes! or maybe just yours! ?

 

[classic33]

Well it's in the Pro Cycling section so I am sure everyone understands ? or do we have to look again and avoid their mistakes! or maybe just yours! ?

There's not many motorists, only looking out for themselves, in a race though, is there.

Bikeradar

 

[roadrash]

only one poster i can see making mistakes

 

[classic33]

Touching wheels is an occupational hazard of the sport. I do remember that disc brakes were not acceptable because it was one of the issues in a peloton. The second crash was B&B rider touching UAE rider on descent at speed. Not sure how we can fix it.

Furniture and fans on the others hand can be handled better to bring down the overall number of crashes. One possibility is perimeter outsiders (right and left) so that the path is clear. The motorcycle camera guys are there because of the broadcasting value. There are also other escort riders for breakaway leaders but not perimeter or boundary outriders for the peloton. I am sure it would hardly cost a dent to protect the peloton.

Imagine Jumbo Visma, leading in the front right, brought down on the very first stage. It could have wiped out their stars, sponsors investment, fans aspirations.

UCI also needs to compile and release detailed crash data yearly so everyone knows the cost. Not bury their hands in the sand and say the crashes been there since Tom was a boy.

Something like this
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-cycling-world-safety-idUKKBN26I04LL