Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => PBP => Topic started by: Exit Stage Left on 03 September, 2019, 10:59:14 pm

Title: First riders finish video.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 03 September, 2019, 10:59:14 pm
The first time I've seen a video of the first riders at the electronic line. I'd seen a still of the Rambouillet Ram on the line, but it looks pretty grumpy on the video.

The desire of the group to cross the line together is undermined by their different start times, and is rendered farcical a minute later when the F group velomobile arrives.

https://www.facebook.com/100009317839806/videos/2405434063110498/
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Redlight on 04 September, 2019, 08:01:46 am
Surely the ram should have been disqualified for accepting assistance?
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Davef on 04 September, 2019, 08:15:19 am
Here they are coming through Loudeac

https://www.facebook.com/Ina.fr/videos/1910379455675131?sfns=mo



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Greenbank on 04 September, 2019, 08:25:41 am
https://www.facebook.com/100009317839806/videos/2405434063110498/

"You must login to continue"

Even in a private browser window.

Nope. Hopefully someone can find it hosted somewhere else.
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 04 September, 2019, 09:14:37 am
Here they are coming through Loudeac

https://www.facebook.com/Ina.fr/videos/1910379455675131?sfns=mo



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I do actually have footage of the front group in Loudeac on the return. I've covered 24 Hour TTs and LEJOG, so I have an interest in how support is managed. There's a bit of a misapprehension about what that support might look like. It's striking how little attention is paid to Marko. He's a classy rider, with various records in his palmares. He's taken the 24 over 500 miles in the USA.

He's enjoying a  bit of a late flowering due to adopting a mid-shoe cleat position. That's cured a long-standing hotfoot problem. The cleat position is visible, and he massages his own feet. His team have set up where they can monitor arrivals and departures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSwqdm6Ve74
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: rob on 04 September, 2019, 09:23:40 am
There's not a huge amount of urgency is there ?
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 04 September, 2019, 09:47:28 am
I've taken a bit of footage out, and I didn't keep the camera running when he went off to the toilets. But I've got timecode on arrival and departure. Stationing themselves at the entrance/exit meant that other riders could be monitored.

I've read up on Marko, and he's a typical domestique, his size meant that he couldn't challenge in the mixed terrain of Slovenia. Distance suits him. But he's obviously well-suited to bridging gaps, as he started in the B group. There's a slight sign of deference from the other two in the group in the two finish videos.

As I'm tall myself, he's the kind of rider I can identify with. My 'Blue Sky' film would have featured Michael Broadwith, who's a similar rider to Marko in some ways, but with added tomato soup. Any tinge of regret about not going with one of the front-runners was wiped out by the surprise of the Hajo win. The satisfaction of a picture-perfect finish would have lasted under a minute.

I've been joking about featuring sheep more, concentrating on rural life, and the pressures of urbanisation. So the sudden appearance of a prize ram at the finish is something of a vindication. Clearly I now need that footage. I took the precaution of filming the Merinos at the Bergerie on the Friday.
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: zigzag on 04 September, 2019, 10:42:12 am
i can see Marko having started 11min later, caught me at carhaix (523k) where i took a longer break to refuel (being unsupported and riding solo from loudeac). this meant he and the front group reached brest 23min ahead and kept extending their lead bit by bit further on.

perhaps i should organise some support for the next run.
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 04 September, 2019, 11:42:20 am
I interviewed Zigzag on the Wednesday night at the finish marquee. It's always a good idea to get opinions before the impressions settle.

I had my doubts about the ability of controls to accept card payment, which seemed ambitious, given what I'd seen in 2015. Nice to see a very industrious Alwyn in the background.

https://vimeo.com/357793670
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: zigzag on 04 September, 2019, 12:06:11 pm
^^ still half asleep ;D

and now, two weeks later, i'm finally starting to feel recovered. might be another fortnight before vitality and energy return.
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 04 September, 2019, 12:19:48 pm
It does show that the 'impartial' support at controls is a bit of a lottery. I'd favour a pre-payment system which gives access to a buffet close to the control, which would give everyone the same chance.

I'm not actually too bothered about the 'race' aspect. But it does fit a media template. It was quite funny to see that the PR aspect of PBP 2019 was minimal.
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Andy Corless on 04 September, 2019, 06:15:14 pm
"The first time I've seen a video of the first riders at the electronic line."

For information purposes (and if you don't know already), there's some footage of the first riders arriving at the finish line of the 2011 edition posted on Youtube. I don't know who the riders are (Christophe Bocquet might be one)! I've attached the link below. You'll find the footage between 30:55 -  33:30.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5xsPcabCmc

Andy Corless
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Zed43 on 05 September, 2019, 04:07:23 pm
I noticed Marko is having an earphone (just his right ear); I thought this was illegal/banned in France, with possible time penalties when riding PBP? (must admit I used them too during the Tuesday night, I needed the morale boost)
Title: Re: First riders finish video.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 05 September, 2019, 04:59:11 pm
I noticed Marko is having an earphone (just his right ear); I thought this was illegal/banned in France, with possible time penalties when riding PBP? (must admit I used them too during the Tuesday night, I needed the morale boost)

I assumed it was for his mobile phone, so that his crew could contact him. He was wearing it in the control, so there was plenty of opportunity for them to pull him up about it. I was more intrigued by his saddle, which had a pronounced 'kick' at the back, much as Eros Poli used to favour.

(https://roadbikeaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Eros-Poli-2.jpg)