Originally Posted by
Iride01
Will we ban riders that leave their line and don't interfere with any other rider? If not, then it seems like we are penalizing only the violators that had the misfortune of having someone unknowingly come up on their side.
I'd think those in the lead sprinting all out are pretty oblivious to those rapidly coming up on their side from well behind or after having been already passed.
This is simply not at all borne out by fact.
We have all seen riders leaning on each other, hitting each other with helmets, elbowing each other .... things a rider would not do it the rider didn't know another rider was nearby.
And it is not in fact in any way illegal not to hold a line if a rider is all alone on the road.
If people are not going to use facts and common sense, there cannot be sensible, fact-based discussion, and what's the point then?
Originally Posted by
Iride01
I'd think we'd have to be willing to disqualify any rider going outside the set limits whether it interfered with another or not. Maybe in some cases just a points, time or win disqualification and not necessarily a ban unless it was an injury to other.
The rules are designed to protect, not penalize riders. People who cannot understand that had best learn if they want a place in the conversation.
Anyone who knows any bike racers, or has listened to any interviews, or has any clue or information at all about how sprinters think ... they absolutely know who is around when they sprint. That's why they know when to throw up their hands in victory---or not---when they win or don't.
If sprinters had no idea when they were sprinting in packs, every bunch sprint would end in a massive pile-up.
Riders know this. A lot of sprinting is being able to ride ion the fine line between crashing and getting squeezed out, between pushing through and pushing too hard.
Sprinters absolutely know where other sprinters are around them. Did you think every time one sprinter has a slight lead and cuts off pursuers it is purely accidental? Have you every actually watched a sprint? have you ever listened to sprinters describe what they do?
Sorry, this is entirely nonsense.