Dan333SP

Heat of the disc, whether it caused the slice or not, would not be relevant in this crash. It was a flat sprint stage, can't imagine they were using the brakes for much more than occasional dabs to avoid riding into the back of someone. Anyway, doesn't seem very likely that the disc was in any way involved. I bet if you look at all race crashes over time in events without disc brakes, you'd find plenty of "slicing" events from barriers, road debris, whatever.

FlashBazbo

Now the question is . . . is the guy man/mature enough to acknowledge his mistake and apologize? If he does, he can turn this from an embarrassment to a positive. It will show real character. (But I don't think I'll hold my breath waiting for it.)

ARPRINCE

OK it looks like he cut his shoe on the wheel spokes. You can see on this video that his left foot was already un-clipped(?) and there was a sudden jerk on the foot like it got sucked into the wheel or something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuVo-6dWjB8&feature=youtu.be

Dan333SP

I don't know, I see his foot stop pedaling and it moves side to side a bit, but I don't think he's un-clipping and getting it sucked into the spokes. To me it looks more like he stops pedaling and moves his body around trying to hold balance when he gets pinched by the rider to his left, and then they all go toppling over. The red barrier cover and the orange/red mark on his shoe, complete with the flat metal edges on the bottom of those barriers (have set them up for bike races myself) makes me think he clearly got his shoe sliced against the barrier.

ARPRINCE

The clip below at @0:26-0:28 on a loop, you can see he stopped pedaling and the foot suddenly jerked.

VIDEO - Team Sky's Owain Doull suffers nasty bum injury in Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Tour - Video Eurosport

FlashBazbo

Regardless, what's obvious is that his left foot never came anywhere close to Kittel's bike. (Kittel was on his right and ahead -- almost clear.)

nycphotography

Metal barriers.

There are sharp edges both at the bottom of the legs (unlikely as someone else would have to tip the barrier before he hit it, or it woudl have to upend) and also at the hooks that link them together (much more likely).

Plus there may be various screws and zip ties and any number other sharp edges flying about.

But to automatically blame the disc brakes is beyond even jerky-kneeish. It suggests at a preconceived dislike and desire to find fault.

FlashBazbo

There are no 90* edges on this year's brake discs. The edges are rounded.

WhyFi

Cool, then claiming the damage was from a disc is even more dubious.

Dan333SP

This all brings up a more important point... why are they wasting money and increasing danger for riders by erecting miles of metal barriers when there are about 30 spectators at these desert races?

RPK79

If it was the disc he wouldn't have a foot anymore. Everyone knows this is a fact. #debateisover

kc0bbq

So people have something to blame on brake discs.

Roman Vintfeld

Good point. This is amateur hour. When discs strike, they usually go for the throat. And they never miss.

smarkinson

That's a good video as you can use the slider control to step through it frame by frame. It does look like Doull was on the left side of Kittel and feel down to the left (which is why he has gravel rash on his left side). As the cut was on his left shoe it seems somewhat incredible to believe that his left foot was able to get anywhere near Kittel's disc brakes.

DXchulo

Video: What can disc rotors actually cut? | VeloNews.com

Maybe they aren't as sharp as you'd think. Sadly, no cadaver test.

Symtex

Reality says otherwise : Video: What can disc rotors actually cut? | VeloNews.com

ARPRINCE

From Velonews as well.

zymphad

It's much to ask for brake covers. I'm not sure why they didn't mandate these before trialing them again. It only makes sense. Seems to me, brake covers would be good in terms of durability? So why not, ban them. Bring them back when can design proper covers.

Regardless if it actually happened or not, just do it. Make it happen. It will eliminate whatever excuses peloton can come up with regarding safety.

zymphad

I'm more upset Cavendish won. I keep hoping that wanker never wins again, gets frustrated, rage, and retires. Can't think of any athlete more despicable and unlikable than Cavendish.

Bmach

Why do you that way about Cavendish?

jamesdak 

He's one of my favorites! Glad he's starting out the year in great form!

datlas 

Spoiler.

Reported

AristoNYC

The ship sinks at the end of "Titanic"

smarkinson

But Jack and Rose live happily ever after don't they?

FlashBazbo

Chainrings are more dangerous than brake discs. Let's add chain guards, too. Chain guards that fully envelope the chainrings, the chain, and the cassette. And what about the spokes? Yikes! Let's mandate full disc aero wheels, front and rear. And there seems to be a lot of road rash -- probably the most common injury. Scrapes are bad. Let's mandate thick hip, shoulder, elbow and knee pads -- and Kevlar long-sleeved, long-legged kits. And what about flying insects? Nothing hurts worse than a bug in the eye or down the throat -- unless it's a paper cut. Let's mandate full face visors.


And it seems to me that the worst fall injuries happen on big descents. Let's outlaw descents of more than, say, 2% grade. And sprint finishes. What percentage of injuries happen from crashes during sprint finishes? It's HUGE! A lot more than confirmed injuries from brake discs (zero, to this point). So, let's outlaw sprint finishes! NOW! We don't want to take any untoward risks. Bring back cycling when it can be made perfectly safe.