If the UCI/race organiser made it clear they'd neutralise the race in the event of a train crossing there'd be no reason for riders to take the risk, it's clear the riders thought the race would carry on without them and in the heat of the moment smashed on through. Rules should be upheld and DQ's handed out but IMO you need to remove that "oh shit I'm getting dropped because of this" feeling.
I disagree with what they did (although I understand it) but did anyone notice that the clip on the BBC was edited to make it look like there was less of a time gap between the last riders crossing and the train coming through? It seems they are turning into a tabloid channel.
This might be controversial, but maybe they used their eyes to see if they could cross in time, like we all do when crossing the road.... And maybe they were right, seeing as none of them were killed.
Except it was a big bastard bunch of riders negotiating the temporary chicane created by the lowered barrier, across a set of rails, all it would have taken would be for one rider to tumble into several others and the train would be scything it's way through cabonfirbre bikes and EPO soaked morons...
you can see several riders clipping the barriers and setting them wagging, half of them probably couldn't be sure there wasn't a train right about to cross, bunched up with the other riders...
Sure you would have risked it...Just like crossing a quite country lane innit.
Can't really blame the riders, anyone who has raced knows that you certainly wouldn't be thinking clearly in a situation like that, adrenaline fueled oxygen debt and all that.
The fact is that the UCI need to get their house in order and lay down clear rules for how these situations are to be handled by race organisers. As has been pointed out, trains can't be stopped as they can't tell when the race will roll through. Sunday's race was already delayed at the start for a while as there was a concern that due to the tailwaind the race would be way ahead of the fastest schedule.
I am at a loss to understand why there isn't a requirement for the race organiser to put a marshall on a point like this who has full responsibility and authority to stop the race in a situation like that, any rider going past the marshall in that situation is DQ'd, no excuses. Why is that so difficult to implement, I mean the marshall could even be put in contact with the rail authority to be made aware of oncoming traffic and that the race would need to be stopped.!? Doesn't sound like rocket science to implement, it's not like the P-R organisers are short of money, lord knows the teams don't see much of it..
H1ghland3r +1... There are some decisions the riders take and some that rest with the organizers, the level crossing piece is not for the riders to decide imho.
I think, though happy to be corrected, the route crossed the railway 5 times so it's not beyond the vision of someone responsible that the train issue would happen. I bet sncf have pretty accurate timings of trains and crossing locations too.
A rolling police outrider, job sorted, sncf bod with coms to the trains... Loads of options.
I was at the start of the Arenburg Trench and the barrier there came down just after the peloton came through which caused enough chaos in the convoy. Imagine the peloton heading into Arenburg and the barrier coming down!!
It's a crazy day. People were stopping on the autoroute to watch the race go by too. The police couldnt stop the motorists either - too many.
organisers and UCI fail IMO.
It shouldn't be the riders decision to jump that barrier, or have to slam the brakes on in such a big bunch.
I doubt any of them had a good look both ways with their racing heads on....
You can see one guy get caught on the far barrier!
If it's a closed race course, that should include trains as well as cars.
It shouldn't be the riders decision to jump that barrier, or have to slam the brakes on in such a big bunch.
No but the rule is (edit) Barriers Down stop
From the UCI rule Book
2.3.034 Level crossings
It shall be strictly forbidden to cross level crossings when the barrier is down.
Apart from risking the penalty for such an offence as provided by Law, offending riders shall be disqualified
from the race by the commissaires
I'm guessing that it should have been stressed at the race briefing.
Adding a police/marshall at the crossings to stop close the road at the point may be required.
If it's a closed race course, that should include trains as well as cars.
Somewhat harder to implement a rolling road block for trains, and what about the cost of that? Who picks that up? It costs shit loads when trains get delayed, how long for the entire caravan to get through?
Nice theory, not in practice.
It's pretty much impossible to stop the trains without massive inconvenience since the race schedule is variable. Sunday's race was dry with a tailwind hence the race started late to try to finish on time for the TV schedules but there are many variables.
all it would have taken would be for one rider to tumble into several others and the train would be scything it's way through cabonfirbre bikes and EPO soaked morons...
Not to mention the possibility of the train derailing if you get enough bits of metal and bone under the wheels.
Apart from risking the penalty for such an offence as provided by Law, offending riders [u][i][b]shall[/u][/i][/b] be disqualified from the race by the commissaires
My emphasis on the shall, but to me that's clear. Not might.
The feeling that you can't, because too many were involved..... you'd only have to do it once, and then it would stop.
As to whether it adds to or spoils the racing; it's part OF the racing. If the break get another 30s as a result of that good fortune, so be it. If the break get held up by 30s as a result, bad fortune. Kind of like a safety car in F1, it's there for safety and accepted as such. Plus of course the peloton has the option to soft pedal and regroup, as they did this time.
the ones riding through as the barriers are coming down is debateable, the ones pushing past the cop deserve a hefty fine and neutralised results etc
Ask Robert Millar about barriers and trains (1982 vuelta!)
I did it once, when I was a lot younger and more reckless. About 5 miles from the finish I had 30seconds and was flying (averaging almost 20mph probably) lights started, barriers came down, I saw the train in the distance and weaved through. About a mile down the road a police bike pulled alongside and I was politely requested to ‘retire with a mechanical’ or else accompany them to the station.
averaging almost 20mph probably
Strava trace or it didn't happen! 😉
I'm pretty sure in France the lights flash well before the barriers come down. They mean stop, not 'squeeze through if you feel brave / stupid / lucky'
The barriers are a physical stopper, the lights are the signal.
After the lights - DQ. Would end it overnight.
You could also put up primes for each crossing, as clearly it's in everyones interest to be with the bunch and at the front for more than cash reasons, as opposed to current KoM where only a few bother with the effort.
I'm pretty sure in France the lights flash well before the barriers come down. They mean stop, not 'squeeze through if you feel brave / stupid / lucky'
All level crossings flash before the barriers come down, otherwise you'd have vehicles ****ting the barriers even more regularly.
There's absolutely no reason to ride under a falling barrier, there's even less reason to barge through when they're very, very clearly down with a Gendarme protecting them! The UCI should DQ the lot of them, there's no ambiguity in the rules whatsoever, shame they're not enforcing them.
That's not saying I wouldn't get caught up in the melee and end up going because everyone around me did, no righteous indignation being shown, just looking at it objectively.
You wouldn't go irrespective of what everyone else did if you KNEW (as in cast iron guaranteed knew) that anyone that went would be DQ'ed.
ie: that the UCI commissaires would apply the rules as written down.
Paris-Roubaix needed a bit more added excitement, what can be more thrilling than possible death by TGV ? Do Red Bull know about this ?? They could strafe them with their biplanes for added danger and spectator interest.
UCI should fine every team with a rider who broke the rules. Won't impact on the race results but might make them think harder about doing it again.
Shouldn't be too hard to find out which riders went through the barrier as they're all running gps's.
Teams should face sanctions until all guilty riders handed over.
yep. might not be fun but I think the problem would get sorted pretty quickAfter the lights - DQ. Would end it overnight.
It wasn't the only unfortunate incedent either
The chap in this pic chose to nip into the bushes for a dump just as the leaders and the chopper went over.
hard to organise but manage to close roads for all sorts of events and trains can be slowed or stopped but if no will then either neutralise the race or make it even clearer that those who do cross with the barriers down and from the video I watched ignored a police motorcyclist will be disqualified - rather than the might be, possibly, sorry we have rules but we didn't mean it
would like to see the riders that can be identified line up and apologise to the train driver and put their hand in their pockets and contribute to the local emergency services support funds - if it had all gone wrong then picking up the pieces (literally) and living with the consequences wouldn't have just fallen to the race organisers
One of the riders who jumped the barriers was Wiggins.
Just wondering what the comments would be like if he got DQ'd...
I can imagine Cycling Weekly struggling with the moral dilemma of wanting all riders to be DQ'd while trying to portray Saint Wiggins in the best possible light.
😉
U23 Tour of Flanders.
