While this probably was some sort of malicious attack, I don’t want to jump to conclusions. If you watch closely, it looks as though after Bos puts his hand on Impey’s shoulder he starts to fall, then grabs the jersey and yanks Impey down. I dunno, I’m not convinced Bos intentionally pulled Impey down. It almost looks as if Bos was getting squeezed badly, got nervous, grabbed Impey, then fell, pulling him down. On the other hand, it could’ve been the yanking-down that makes Bos wobble and fall.
He seemed like such a nice young man…
seems pretty clear to me. you can’t really know why he did it, but it would be pretty hard to do that on accident. it’s not like his hand just got stuck to impey. i could see an inexperienced rider panicking and doing something like this, but that isn’t really the case here.
That’s how I see it as well. Looks like he’s holding Impey off to avoid running into the barrier, then hits the barrier, looses his balance, crash. I don’t think it’s appropriate to say he intentionally pulled the guy down.
Besides, Bos really isn’t the type to attack another rider. Always well spoken and calm in interviews and I can’t remember him displaying hooligan behaviour before. Just an allround nice guy.
his intentions are nugatory. that sort of contact on bos’ part should elicit the banhammer.
If Bos did this on accident, that’s almost worse - who on earth would want to be in the peloton with a rider so sketchy that he grabs the jersey of another rider and physically yanks him down when he’s nervous. And who the hell rests his hand on another rider in the middle of a bunch sprint, anyway?
Instinct?
[quote] Theo Bos, 20 Apr 2009 (transl.: tedvdw)
The reactions to the crash in the Tour of Turkey are no laughing matter. On Youtube you can see how I seem to intentionally cause a crash. Even Lance Armstrong makes it known that I should be suspended for a long time. A reaction which I fully understand after seeing the images and hearing the accompanying commentary.
Of course I also watched them myself, over and over. It is difficult to see in the view from above, it seems as though I pull him off his bike. However, I am completely boxed in there while being pushed into the barriers on the left and, as a reflex, the one thing I do is to make an ultimate attempt trying to keep him away from me. At that moment the only option, precisely to prevent the crash. I think I then hit a barrier foot with my front wheel and go crashing down immediately, together with Impey.
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I would never intentionally take the risk to cause a crash this way. Why should I: I take myself out as well. For years I have been a track sprinter at the highest level. Keirin is notorious for its pushing and pulling, the taking of risks. But do note: in those circles I am not known as a sprinter who takes extreme risks. In Japan this even earned me my nickname. It is not in my character. This is really making me sick.
For my transition from the track to the road I deliberately chose Rabobank's continental team. To learn the trade out of the limelight. I am not looking forward to being known for this. Naturally, I also told my story to Barloworld. I really feel sorry for Impey and have indicated to the team that I would like to discuss it with him, to tell my side of things. I have no reason to walk away from him but understand that he is angry.
I feel like shit for having become headline news in this way. As a sportsman, I want to show that I am a different man. This is bugging me. I hope that there is more footage. Perhaps those videos can be viewed side by side and analysed frame by frame. I would give everything to prove that this was not my fault. It was never my intention. Not even in the heat of the battle. I will have to convince everyone that I win my sprints differently. I love this sport. Sport is on the cutting edge. Fair play is part of that in every way. It is never worth going beyond that![/quote]Theo Bos - kickwithitable. It was an accident.
I still don’t understand how Impey went down so easy. It’s like he jumped forward.
And fuck the commenter.
UCI isn’t banning him.
I dont know why any race organizer would use those barriers. They have those metal feet that stick outside the profile of the barrier itself - seems dangerous.
I think most reasonable people wouldn’t have expected him finish two years ago. Road sprinting != track sprinting. Think of Cav, he’s one of the fastest road sprinters but is an endurance rider on the track.
That’s pretty much standard. Think about what you’d have to do to make the center of balance behind the barrier now think of how much miles of cycling specific barriers would cost.
bos is a boss. who the hell can pick up another cyclist while riding a bike? that mofo is strong.
but yeah, partyfoul
[quote=dutret]
That’s pretty much standard. Think about what you’d have to do to make the center of balance behind the barrier now think of how much miles of cycling specific barriers would cost.[/quote]
makes sense.
[quote=tepr][quote=dutret]
That’s pretty much standard. Think about what you’d have to do to make the center of balance behind the barrier now think of how much miles of cycling specific barriers would cost.[/quote]
makes sense.[/quote]
if the feet didn’t stick out, people would ride even closer and end up catching their bars or something.
[quote=tjayk][quote=tepr][quote=dutret]
That’s pretty much standard. Think about what you’d have to do to make the center of balance behind the barrier now think of how much miles of cycling specific barriers would cost.[/quote]
makes sense.[/quote]
if the feet didn’t stick out, people would ride even closer and end up catching their bars or something.[/quote]
All the major tours have barriers with no no feet sticking out. The barrier part is angled back toward the spectators at the top. You could actually modify the current barriers pretty easily with stiff plastic boards that would be easily moveable from place to place. They only really need them for the last 500m, if that.
[quote=TimArchy][quote=tjayk][quote=tepr][quote=dutret]
That’s pretty much standard. Think about what you’d have to do to make the center of balance behind the barrier now think of how much miles of cycling specific barriers would cost.[/quote]
makes sense.[/quote]
if the feet didn’t stick out, people would ride even closer and end up catching their bars or something.[/quote]
All the major tours have barriers with no no feet sticking out. The barrier part is angled back toward the spectators at the top. You could actually modify the current barriers pretty easily with stiff plastic boards that would be easily moveable from place to place. They only really need them for the last 500m, if that.[/quote]
makes sense.