Shirley it'll just be a sprint to that instead of the cobbles?
The lesser of two evils?
its not a chicane to avoid the arenberg its to slow down the entrance to the cobbles - the approach is a not slow (up to a mile) descent and its easy to be hitting 40mph - even for me - when you hitthe biggest most spaced cobbles of the race, hitting those at 40mph could be like hitting a kerbstone after misjudging the bunny hop, they're just trying to avoid crashes at the entrance.
But Im with MVDP on this its a bit crap...
The lesser of two evils?
Yeah, that's what I picked up from the various posts elsewhere on the subject, riders union preferred the prospect of a sprint to the chicane with possible crashes on tarmac rather than on cobbles. I think not only are consequences of crashes less bad, but the crashes are less likely, both due to a more predictable surface!
Road.cc posted an impressively gruesome picture of a rider's blood covered face after a crash on the Arenberg.
I'm keeping my mind open, could be interesting to see the change in technique brought about by the slower speed, arguably more about power and finesse on the pedals rather than holding on at 60km/h? Less pot luck or will the lower speeds make it harder to negotiate the bumps?
slower speeds on that section would be a nightmare, they way to tackle any section is to maintain speed and fluidity, one year I had to avoid a bike about halfway down the arenberg, never got back into a rhythmwas like bumping up and down a kerb for 1/4 of a mile...
I've an open mind, as a crash on the tarmac is much less dangerous that one of the cobbles. And it might make the cobbles more exciting, as the slower speed accelerating on them might mean more skilled riders benifit.
The riders asked for it.
Let's just see how it goes. If it's better, keep it for next time. If it isn't, just go back to how it was.
You never know unless you give it a try and see the results at least once.
now that Ive seen the chicane its ridiculous...
Its a 45degree right followed quickly by a u turn and another 45degree right - it will cause more crashes than hitting the cobbles quickly...
Riders are complaining a lot - most thinks its a joke....
A ridiculous decision.... the Arenberg is what it is. No need to tinker,
Riders are complaining a lot – most thinks its a joke….
The only rider I've seen saying it's a joke (or rather asking if it is a joke) is MvdP. Adam Hansen, President of the CPA, says the majority of riders and teams approached are in favour of reducing the approach speed and this is apparently the favoured solution.
Personally I don't like it and it looks to me like there will be the usual mad dash to the front along the approach road before braking hard on a level crossing.
Oh and see also the Cobbled Classics thread.
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