Exciting finish in the women's road race in Rio

[Kudoscycles]

The finish in the men's and ladies races were very similar,with crashes on the dangerous downhill and all decided by a few metres at the line,
I thought exciting to watch.
I must say with all the controversy running up to the Rio Olympics the sport has been fantastic to watch and the organisation looks equal to previous games,at much less cost,and with the backdrop of beautiful Rio scenery.
KudosDave

 

[Artstu]

That was a very nasty accident, I do hope she isn't badly injured.

Videos are being blocked

It sounds like she may be okay http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/37005595

 

[Benjahmin]

Lets hope so, that was horrible

 

[LeighPing]

Slow motion.

 

[soundwave]

thats how you head butt the floor buy slamming on the front brake while clipped to the bike pmsl.

no control of the bike what so ever its not even that steep or do they not bother to check the course them self?

 

[LeighPing]

Around the 4 second mark, you can see the bottom of the front wheel bend and buckle under the strain, as she flips over the handlebars. It was probably warm, soft and wobbly by the time this crash occurred.

Horrible crash - really tough race. I gather she's got severe concussion and 3 small fractures in her back. I also felt sorry for Mara Abbott - gold to 'nothing' in the final 10 seconds.

 

[D8ve]

thats how you head butt the floor buy slamming on the front brake while clipped to the bike pmsl.

no control of the bike what so ever its not even that steep or do they not bother to check the course them self?

Hmm,
5 top pro cyclists lost it on that not steep bit?
They were pushing it to the edge.
They normaly cover huge mileage.
They have my respect. They new what they were doing and we're taking a risk. Trying to get Olympic glory.
Criticise them when YOU have won a national medal.
Respect to the finishers, sympathy to the injured.

 

[Kudoscycles]

The organisers were warned in advance that this downhill section was the most technical(dangerous)of any olympic road race, Chris Boardman drove the course before and recognised the dangers.
After so many hours of racing and tired minds it was inevitable that they would push beyond the limit.
In hindsight (wonderful stuff hindsight),Van Vleuden would have been better to have stuck with Mara Abbott,came down more conservatively and the 2 of them worked together to the finish,settling a sprint for the line. As it was Mara Abbott had to work on her own all the way to the finish and got overhauled by the three riders working together to catch her,boy she must have been gutted.
Have learnt a lot about cycle racing from the Tour de France,it is an amazing technical sport,as much about tactics as stamina and power,fascinating.
For example,I was surprised how quickly the Peleton caught the breakaway group on the final climb,even the commentator thought it crazy how they let the breakaways break away,but the Peleton had control,
KudosDave

 

[gray198]

That descent looked brutal