Pro-cycling thread

Frustration for Cav again. From the overhead, looks like he'd barely spun up. http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dubai-tour-2017/stage-2/results/

This morning's stage looks interesting; sand storms, echelons and Marcel Kittel's been punched in the face by an Astana rider according to Lefevre. Blood on his face etc.

Elbow in the face, nasty.

Intentionally?

Kittel was shown demonstrating a text book elbow smash back at the UCI car. Brian Smith saying "it's just racing"

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Sunglasses gone, they could have cut him

No fists = legit.

"Rubbing is racing..."

:)

https://twitter.com/TourDeJose/status/827087334822785024

Did anyone see the finish? Sounds like Degenkolb beat Cav in a head to head.

He didn't, he beat Cavendish's team mate, Jense van Rensburg.

Kittel said it was Grivko

On here?

https://twitter.com/Laura_Weislo/status/826869441149419520

Where's Bouhanni when you need him?

Could have been a proper tear-up with him in the bunch.

Kittel just now "I won't accept an apology for this"

Certainly has to be a piss take, a good one too.

What's the story? Was he trying to be big man of the peloton and Grivko wasn't going to have it?

Now Kittel's talking shit on twitter.

https://twitter.com/marcelkittel/status/827142340603179008

The race was blown apart by crosswinds, Kittel was fighting with position alongside an unnamed Astana rider, and used his size to push in. Grivko took exception, rode up to Kittel and punched him.

The former is a racing incident, the latter has crossed the line. Disqualification is the right decision.

I think his tongue is firmly in his cheek, no?

^^ cheers

^ I guess I read the "Know your limits" bit as a tad antagonistic/disrespectful/childish (not that punching someone isn't more antagonistic/disrespectful/childish in this case!).

Grivko has previous, he punched Robbie McEwen* once in, I think, the Eneco Tour. Word from Twitter today is that he's a pretty unpopular rider, which has been compounded today.

*I'd have thought there was a queue waiting to stick one on the lovely Robbie mind.

Rider behind the incident says that Kittel was chiding riders for dangerous maneuvers then
Grivko (Astana) rode up and punched him.

https://twitter.com/CaleyFretz/status/827114842628771840

True that, but he'd hit 'em back.

DQ:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/astana-rider-disqualified-dubai-tour-punching-marcel-kittel-309656

If he won't accept an apology, I wonder what he will accept? Blood sacrifice?