Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: andyoxon on 04 June, 2019, 09:58:57 am

Title: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 04 June, 2019, 09:58:57 am
https://www.womenstour.co.uk/stages/

Go through about 5mins from here on the 12 June (Henley to Blenheim), so I may head down to a nearby uphill section.  OCC are busy resurfacing bits of the A417 at the moment apparently, hopefully not with the usual chunky gravel...

Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: PaulF on 04 June, 2019, 10:00:27 am
In a very loose definition of resurfacing...

It's some tar with some gravel loosely attached :facepalm:
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: DuncanM on 04 June, 2019, 11:55:12 am
Thanks for reminding me. :) I'm gonna skip out of work and watch the Didcot sprint. Will probably bring my folding bike so I can ride there and back.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: mattc on 04 June, 2019, 05:37:00 pm
Thanks for reminding me. :) I'm gonna skip out of work and watch the Didcot sprint. Will probably bring my folding bike so I can ride there and back.
I think this will be quite an occasion - speaking as a local, anyway! The mens Tour came close a few years ago and lots of us watched, but a race up the "high street" will be something else :)

I will also look at having an er ... longer "lunch". It's a bit far on the bike (time-wise!), so ideally I'll recruit a colleague with a car :P

Resurfacing: there's a bit of A417 between Harwell and Rowstock that is AWFUL! I'll be disappointed if they don't patch that bit up - although there is a parallel lane they could use, so I dunno ...
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: DuncanM on 04 June, 2019, 07:35:29 pm
Thanks for reminding me. :) I'm gonna skip out of work and watch the Didcot sprint. Will probably bring my folding bike so I can ride there and back.
I think this will be quite an occasion - speaking as a local, anyway! The mens Tour came close a few years ago and lots of us watched, but a race up the "high street" will be something else :)

I will also look at having an er ... longer "lunch". It's a bit far on the bike (time-wise!), so ideally I'll recruit a colleague with a car :P

Resurfacing: there's a bit of A417 between Harwell and Rowstock that is AWFUL! I'll be disappointed if they don't patch that bit up - although there is a parallel lane they could use, so I dunno ...
I was on Brill Hill when the mens tour came past. That was a huge amount of fun (and the speed they were doing was incredible). Will be interesting to see a sprint. :) Maybe see you there!
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: mattc on 04 June, 2019, 07:38:39 pm
Oh yeah - I'd forgotten Brill  :facepalm:   !!!
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 04 June, 2019, 09:28:22 pm
The major climb this time seems to be Britwell Hill Rd (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6240931,-1.0168529,3a,75y,127.54h,69.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_we_L6tV2E_abKP43p0ynA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en), a bit too far for me - may venture into Didcot too.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: essexian on 06 June, 2019, 07:07:46 am
I may, fitness dependent, head down to the Warwickshire stage next week. However, is it just me who is very disappointed as there doesn't seem to be any live coverage of the race: I think there was last year.

Okay, I know ITV4 will have highlights in the evening but highlights never do it for me as they don't allow the race to unfold in a natural way.

As this is now one of the biggest races for women in the world, surely we should have live coverage?

Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: Peat on 06 June, 2019, 09:13:27 am
The major climb this time seems to be Britwell Hill Rd (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6240931,-1.0168529,3a,75y,127.54h,69.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_we_L6tV2E_abKP43p0ynA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en), a bit too far for me - may venture into Didcot too.

The benefit of venturing over to there is you will be able to see them twice, Once up Pishil then scamper over to Britwell. I reckon you could even get over to Blenhiem for the finish too. It'd be a long day out.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: DuncanM on 06 June, 2019, 09:44:12 am
I may, fitness dependent, head down to the Warwickshire stage next week. However, is it just me who is very disappointed as there doesn't seem to be any live coverage of the race: I think there was last year.

Okay, I know ITV4 will have highlights in the evening but highlights never do it for me as they don't allow the race to unfold in a natural way.

As this is now one of the biggest races for women in the world, surely we should have live coverage?
A minimum of 45 minutes of live TV coverage will be mandatory for a race to be part of the womens World Tour next year.  As a result, ASO have already said that they will be pulling the womens Liege Bastogne Liege from the World Tour. It's ridiculous.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 06 June, 2019, 01:04:35 pm
Anyone know how much in advance of the riders arriving, the roads are likely to be closed?
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: essexian on 06 June, 2019, 02:05:45 pm
Anyone know how much in advance of the riders arriving, the roads are likely to be closed?

From my experience, its normally 10 to 15 minutes or so in advance of the riders.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 12 June, 2019, 11:04:17 am
Probably going to try the end of the Winnaway/top of Harwell village.  They're at Christmas common now.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 12 June, 2019, 02:04:14 pm
There was a bad crash in the Didcot area (not sure where exactly), race was neutralised.   Great to see all the riders when they arrived.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: Danu on 12 June, 2019, 02:28:19 pm
Shock of seeing MattC
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 12 June, 2019, 09:10:55 pm
CCC Liv rider hit a pothole on the A4130 towards Didcot (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6070096,-1.2148944,3a,75y,61.96h,80.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEKkGdKg0YspxHtjLXgM0xA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en), handlebars/stem snapped and following team mate GC leader, Marianne Vos went down, with a load of other riders.  Pothole!?  I'm not surprised really, knowing the state of the roads, but would have thought that road inspection/OCC would have at least have sorted/patched obvious potholes...  :facepalm:
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: mattc on 13 June, 2019, 07:11:37 am
Before I saw the footage, my first reaction was also to seethe about council maintenance, and wonder why the race didn't pay for patches to the worst ... Seeing the crash, it looks like there was almost nothing there to hit. I ride along there once-in-a-while and consider it one of the better sections round here! The route certainly went over some worse bits.

One has to leap to some conclusion, so I'm choosing crappy equipment!

Either way, very sad for Vos et al. Luckily I haven't seen report of any lasting injuries. It somehow feels a lot worse when it's on your doorstep [whilst Froomey's crash feels like it's on another world.]
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 13 June, 2019, 09:23:51 am
Yes could of been, or both.  Apparently it's being investigated.  ITV coverage (https://www.womenstour.co.uk/jolien-dhoore-wins-second-stage-of-2019-ovo-energy-womens-tour-at-blenheim-palace/) definition not really sufficient... If pothole related, this repair (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6070934,-1.2142937,3a,46.7y,47.83h,75.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7eAuQDoZUFOTpb28WS4RRg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en), seems to be more or less at the same spot the rider lost control...

Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: De Sisti on 13 June, 2019, 10:02:13 am
From what I could see, there wasn't a pothole in sight. It appeared to me that the handlebars
of the rider in second position snapped and she lost control of her bike after that.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: quixoticgeek on 13 June, 2019, 10:04:57 am

Just watched the hilights on YouTube. That crash looks brutal. Do we know the extent of Marianna's injuries? With the smaller size of women's teams, and teams losing upto 3 riders, this is going to make things rather hard for those remaining.

Hope injuries aren't too serious.

J
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: quixoticgeek on 13 June, 2019, 10:24:23 am

Correction, I'm seeing on Twitter that CCC has lost 4 riders, not 3.

Oh, teams of 6, not 5.

Yeah, I need more sleep.

J
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 13 June, 2019, 11:46:29 am
Cyclingnews says a cut that needed stitches but no other concerns.

Something similar happened on one of our club runs 10 years or so ago, where pothole impact caused a handlebar to snap, but wouldn't have been going the same speed.  From what I recall, his wasn't a particularly old machine.  I've had handlebars go twice, once after 40000 miles and once after 28000 - the second one without warning - although signs of fatigue could have been hidden by bar tape.

This accident might have been one of those unfortunate combination of circumstances.

Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 13 June, 2019, 12:21:45 pm
On the ITV4 highlights, there is definitely some sort of road 'defect' visible, which is contacted at the same time as the bars snap.  Definitely not a "big pothole", but perhaps potentially 'sharp' enough a jolt to break the handlebars, with or without a hidden issue.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: Peat on 13 June, 2019, 12:48:21 pm
Hard to tell from the grainy pictures, but I don't anything broke on the bike. I just think she had a loose grip on the bars and slipped off with the unexpected jolt.

I have lost control in similar circumstances before, thankfully the consequences were nowhere near as bad.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 13 June, 2019, 01:46:56 pm
Oxford Mail...

Quote
A statement from race organisers Sweetspot has denied that a 'pothole' was to blame for the crash and said it was a 'racing incident'.

The statement said: "​It was not in any way caused by road conditions.

“We have worked closely with Oxfordshire County Council, who have spent three weeks on the route inspecting and carrying out necessary repair work.

“There was a further final inspection yesterday, before the race, involving us and the council. Our own inspector goes out 45 minutes ahead of the race and they were happy with the route. No issues were found on this section of road.

“It is impossible to say what caused the accident.”

Peat, yep that sounds possible.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: Peat on 13 June, 2019, 02:19:28 pm
Oxford Mail...

Quote
A statement from race organisers Sweetspot has denied that a 'pothole' was to blame for the crash and said it was a 'racing incident'.

The statement said: "​It was not in any way caused by road conditions.

“We have worked closely with Oxfordshire County Council, who have spent three weeks on the route inspecting and carrying out necessary repair work.

“There was a further final inspection yesterday, before the race, involving us and the council. Our own inspector goes out 45 minutes ahead of the race and they were happy with the route. No issues were found on this section of road.

“It is impossible to say what caused the accident.”


Jesus wept! That reads like something straight out the belly of the Oceania Ministry of Truth.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: andyoxon on 15 June, 2019, 07:38:49 am
OM have been to have a look...  https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17707911.ovo-womens-cycle-crash-proof-of-pothole-which-ended-marianne-voss-race/?c=ju5bym

Not a "Huge" [sic] pothole, but something.  Probably doesn't fit the council definition of a 'pothole'...

(https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/resources/images/9992165/?type=responsive-gallery-fullscreen)

edit.  I think that  "​It was not in any way caused by road conditions." is wishful thinking on their part.
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: Pedal Castro on 15 June, 2019, 08:37:29 am
TBH as much as I wanted it to be an obvious pothole when I saw the race footage it looked like a touching of wheels to me. Difficult to tell for sure, and in my experience Oxon does have the worse overall road surfaces of anywhere I've cycled including Cuba!
Title: Re: OVO Energy Women's tour...
Post by: PaulF on 15 June, 2019, 09:47:54 am
The Oxfordshire definition of a pothole seems to be “something large enough to swallow a small SUV”.

I have found one excellent stretch of road in the county.