Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: citoyen on 09 May, 2011, 04:01:26 pm
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Only had half an eye on the live Giro coverage this afternoon so missed what happened, but it looks like Wouter Weylandts is in serious trouble after a big crash on a descent - not responding to CPR...
:(
d.
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From what I saw it looked very serious. The podium ceremony has been cancelled.
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Rai and gazzetta now confirming our worst fears.
RIP
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Sad news :(
RIP Wouter Weylandt.
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Very very sad.
He seemed to be the only casualty on the descent about 30kms out.
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That's very sad to hear.
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It looked horrific, and when I heard they were still applying cardiac massage 15 minutes later I knew it wasn't looking good.
RIP Wouter. I'm sure tomorrow's stage will go on, but it will be meaningless, and very hard to watch.
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Very sad. He won this stage last year which makes it seem worse somehow. He must've been full of hope when he set off this morning. RIP.
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RIP.
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$ky News says fractured skull.
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Rest in peace Wouter.
Thoughts are with his family, friends and team mates.
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Rest in peace Wouter.
Thoughts are with his family, friends and team mates.
+1 :(
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Was about to become a father as well !
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Rest in peace Wouter.
Thoughts are with his family, friends and team mates.
+1
I saw a video earlier of what looked like the first few moments after he fell, as his helmet straps were being cut. To be honest I wish I hadn't.
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Millar Pays Tribute To Weylandt | Cyclingnews.com (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/millar-pays-tribute-to-weylandt)
Nice words from David Millar
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It's going to be difficult to watch the rest of the Giro now, especially tomorrow. I keep thinking of Armstrong crossing the finish line, his fingers pointing upwards, in 1995.
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I remember the Motorola team crossing the finish line, en masse, when the day's stage was neutralised after Fabio was killed.
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I don't think the race was officially neutralised, the riders themselves agreed not to contest it and let the Motorola team cross the line first. They donated all their prize money that day to a fund in Casartelli's honour (and the Tour matched it). I expect the peloton will make a similar decision today.
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Indeed. I expect Tyler Farrar will 'win' today followed by Leopard Trek and then the rest of the peloton. A sombre day.
However, despite the sadness and the understandable maudlin views of 'why do we do this?' it is essential to remember that which cycling gives, and to not let it be overshadowed by what has been taken away. Remember the joy, the pleasure, the great times. Live life to the full, however long or short that life may be.
Remember and celebrate with sadness for what is no more, but with joy for what has been and will continue to be. And treasure the smiles, the laughter, the euphoria.
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However, despite the sadness and the understandable maudlin views of 'why do we do this?' it is essential to remember that which cycling gives, and to not let it be overshadowed by what has been taken away. Remember the joy, the pleasure, the great times. Live life to the full, however long or short that life may be.
I like that, very much
RIP Wouter.
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However, despite the sadness and the understandable maudlin views of 'why do we do this?' it is essential to remember that which cycling gives, and to not let it be overshadowed by what has been taken away.
It's amazing that given the potential risks involved, there are so few fatalities in pro cycling. And testament to the incredible skill of the riders - watching someone like Cancellara descending a mountain is wonderfully, terrifyingly thrilling. Likewise watching a bunch sprint with Cav, Petacchi, Farrar et al going shoulder-to-shoulder at speeds in excess of 40mph.
Why do they do it? Because they love the sport. There can be no better reason.
d.
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A wonderful epitaph for Weylandt, David. I am sure that the last thing he would have wanted would be for people to forget that.
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Rest in peace Wouter.
Thoughts are with his family, friends and team mates.
+1
I saw a video earlier of what looked like the first few moments after he fell, as his helmet straps were being cut. To be honest I wish I hadn't.
I was watching on Eurosport and only saw one close-up shot of WW. I was very glad the RAI TV director chose not to dwell on the scene. David Harmon, the commentator, was beside himself and almost lost for words and Sean Kelly was asking people to pray for WW.
RIP
Today, the riders have decided to make the stage a procession (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-trek-to-lead-tribute-to-weylandt-in-giro-ditalia) with LeopardTrek crossing the line together at the front.
That will be very moving to watch.
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Indeed HJ, just been watching it on and off for the last hour or so, nearly all the riders are wearing a black arm band or a black ribbon.
The mood in the peloton seems sombre and there are no breakaways, but the speed is still up around 40k/hr
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Got to feel for Tyler Farrar - I understand they were best mates. Apparently, Farrar is riding but will pull out after today's stage.
Of course, he probably has lots of close friends in the peloton and it's hard to imagine how they must all be feeling today.
d.
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A minor issue, but I feel for the commentators trying to talk for 5 hours today - tough job. I'd rather be in the peloton, I think :(
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He must've been full of hope when he set off this morning.
this comment simply but dramatically illustrates how fragile our hopes,aspirations & indeed our lives are & how we take a lot for granted.
Condolences to his family,friends & colleagues
RIP W.W..
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The commentators are doing a very good job I think, and as mattc just said, I really don't envy them their job today :(
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Very sad to watch the last few k's of todays stage :(
Really feel for Tyler.
RIP Wouter Weylandt
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David Harmon did a great job today
The last km of the stage today from Italian TV. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeYMzIk-aHM&feature=player_embedded) So moving
As Harmon said, events like this remind you that it's really one big family.
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I don't think the race was officially neutralised, the riders themselves agreed not to contest it and let the Motorola team cross the line first. They donated all their prize money that day to a fund in Casartelli's honour (and the Tour matched it). I expect the peloton will make a similar decision today.
When the riders get together and agree on something, there's not much the organisers can do except go along with it.
The riders are the stars, not the fat blokes in red cars, after all.
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Yes of course. I believe the Giro organisation had declared the stage neutralized anyway. I think they've handled it pretty well, and the peloton have been exceptional.
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A desperately sad time for all of us in the armchair peloton. Just watched the last few k's of today's tribute. Very touching. And a special mention to David Millar, the race could not have had a more eloquent race leader on such a day.
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What Charterhall said. ^^^ :(
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A desperately sad time for all of us in the armchair peloton. Just watched the last few k's of today's tribute. Very touching. And a special mention to David Millar, the race could not have had a more eloquent race leader on such a day.
I quite agree - without full coverage, I've only seen bits, but I think they've shown the fullest respect, the organisers as well as the riders. Cyclists do seem to be unusually eloquent for sports people, and David Millar has been a fine spokesperson since his rehabilitation.
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What Charterhall said. ^^^ :(
Totally agree. Millar the patron. (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/leopard-trek-to-lead-tribute-to-weylandt-in-giro-ditalia/173106)
Poor old Tyler Farrar. :'(
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I cried when I watched Tyler coming over the line earlier :'(
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A desperately sad time for all of us in the armchair peloton. Just watched the last few k's of today's tribute. Very touching. And a special mention to David Millar, the race could not have had a more eloquent race leader on such a day.
+1
I haven't watched it yet but, having seen Millar speak before, if there's anyone who could say or do the right thing, it's him.
So sad the Leopard Trek team pulled out. I'd've liked to have seem them go for a stage later on in honour of WW, as Armstrong did for Casartelli. But that's up to them and their feelings.
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I cried when I watched Tyler coming over the line earlier :'(
I fully expect to leak when I see it later on.
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Cyclists do seem to be unusually eloquent for sports people
+1
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I cried when I watched Tyler coming over the line earlier :'(
Yes, me too, I've just switched it off. It was well done all round - riders, organisers, crowd and commentators. I'm not sure I could have stomached crossing the line today if I were them.
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David Harmon did a great job today
The last km of the stage today from Italian TV. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeYMzIk-aHM&feature=player_embedded) So moving
As Harmon said, events like this remind you that it's really one big family.
that vid has been pulled by the Copyright holders - whcih seems a bit petty >:(
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David Harmon did a great job today
The last km of the stage today from Italian TV. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeYMzIk-aHM&feature=player_embedded) So moving
As Harmon said, events like this remind you that it's really one big family.
that vid has been pulled by the Copyright holders - whcih seems a bit petty >:(
Youtube are madly pulling anything of the crash the instant they find it, I expect that's why they did so fast on this occasion. To be honest, I really wish I hadn't seen the immediate post crash images, I can't get them out of my head.
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Thoughts from JV:
To Live And Be Alive | Cyclingnews.com (http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/jonathan-vaughters/to-live-and-be-alive)
Powerful stuff.
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I don't want to see the crash. But I'm glad I saw the finish before the vid was pulled.
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I don't want to see the crash. But I'm glad I saw the finish before the vid was pulled.
Yeah sorry, I didn't mean that to sound like they pulled yesterday's finish because of crash images on it, there weren't. I just think the Youtube pulling system has gone into overdrive and they are actively seeking out copyright infringements with Giro etc. as keywords because there were so many copies of the actual crash around on Monday night.
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To be honest, I really wish I hadn't seen the immediate post crash images, I can't get them out of my head.
+1
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Some footage of yesterday's memorial stage here:
La tappa del ricordo - Video - Gazzetta TV (http://video.gazzetta.it/tappa-ricordo/23604674-7b3c-11e0-b257-0cce87d2800a)
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Thoughts from JV:
To Live And Be Alive | Cyclingnews.com (http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/jonathan-vaughters/to-live-and-be-alive)
Very, very good.
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Thoughts from JV:
To Live And Be Alive | Cyclingnews.com (http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/jonathan-vaughters/to-live-and-be-alive)
Powerful stuff.
Jeeze - I've had a blub at my desk reading that.
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Me too. I knew Craig got through it, but still I was anxious about the outome as JV told it.
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To complete that story, Craig Lewis was in the HTC squad that won the Giro's TTT this year.
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Leopard-Trek have set up a fund to help his family, girlfriend and unborn child.
Stomach Of Anger are making a ltd edition shirt to raise funds for it: 108 :: StomachOfAnger (http://stomachofanger.com/108.shtml)
And, unsurprisingly, the number 108 is to be retired from the Giro.
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+1 for the T shirt.
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Must say I was surprised* at the BBC Breakfast sports commentator's reference to a 'Belgian cyclist' who died on the Giro, and who then went on to adulate Cavendish at length.
He might have at least mentioned his name.
*no, in truth I am not, I have low expectations of BBC Breakfast and other such stuff.
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I want to wear a black armband on tomorrow's audax but I'm not sure what to make one out of. I might cut the top off a black sock.
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I want to wear a black armband on tomorrow's audax but I'm not sure what to make one out of. I might cut the top off a black sock.
Use what half the peloton are using, black electrical tape :)
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Must say I was surprised* at the BBC Breakfast sports commentator's reference to a 'Belgian cyclist' who died on the Giro, and who then went on to adulate Cavendish at length.
I emailed 5 Live to complain about their paltry half a sentence about Weylandt's death in their sports report, while most of the report was taken up by the result of a largely insignificant football match (and I say that as a fan of the team that won the match in question).
They ignored me.
d.
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I want to wear a black armband on tomorrow's audax but I'm not sure what to make one out of. I might cut the top off a black sock.
Use what half the peloton are using, black electrical tape :)
Ahhh thanks, that I can do!
I can add one to my LS jersey for riding the overnight section too.
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The other half of the peloton are wearing black ribbons, which might be an idea.
Please remember though, if you go for an armband, it should be on the LEFT arm.
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I think the practice of using black insulating tape is well, tacky. You see it often in football, by the end of the game it's peeled off and dangling. After the Rhyl CC tragedy a few years ago I cut a loop out of the sleeve of a black t-shirt, maybe it's still in the back of the drawer...
Oh, and why the left arm?
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Right arm means you're gay. Probably.
d.
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Probably something in DeBrett's or the like as to why, but I have always been told that they should be worn on the left.
The usual online sources are no help :)
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+1 for the T shirt.
+1
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I want to wear a black armband on tomorrow's audax but I'm not sure what to make one out of. I might cut the top off a black sock.
The day after Casartelli died, I rode to work with a black swatch, cut from a very cool Jazz FM T-shirt (in the days when Jazz FM was cool and played jazz), pinned on my arm.
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I was checking out Jens Voigts's performance in the Tour of California, he crashed out, but he wrote a vey good blog on Wouter.
The Crashes | Hardly Serious with Jens Voigt | Bicycling.com (http://bicycling.com/blogs/hardlyserious/2011/05/13/the-crashes/)