Stage 9 Val-d"Isère to Briançon *spoiler*

dicki the wheel as described on channel 4 coverage was " the new crumple-able wheels " why would you want a wheel that crumples or am i missing something
are they specially designed for crashing into dogs

Designed for a very specific type of force. Rolling, a little lateral strength for sprinting, and nothing else whatsoever.

Hit anything with the wheel slightly twisted and you're applying forces to the wheel in ways that were simply never envisioned. And as they are as lightweight as can be, there's just no strength in the for what is essentially a side impact.

It's an expensive crash, but I think he got off very lightly thanks to the accidental crumple zone that wheel had.