Originally posted by Prototype
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http://deadspin.com/superstar-cyclis...fra-1796623166
However, if you watch the whole sprint, it becomes clear that Sagan flicked his elbow out to balance himself after Cavendish made contact with him from behind. The sprint was fast and chaotic, and it looks like Sagan veered right to follow Demare’s wheel, which forced Cavendish over to the extreme edge of the road. Cavendish then attempted to shoot the gap, collided with Sagan, hit the deck, and brought down John Degenkolb and Ben Swift with him.
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Sagan may have been more at fault for the crash, but this is bullshit. Cavendish was pushed off his line then tried to shoot a gap that wasn’t there. Sagan deserves to be penalized for his actions, although a sprint in full flight plays out so quickly that he wasn’t consciously trying to nail Cav to the boards. His high elbow is what drew most of the ire after the race, including from Cav, but it didn’t even make contact. Bike racing is messy and imprecise, and while reckless sprinting does deserve to be penalized, Sagan didn’t intentionally bring down Cavendish.
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Sagan may have been more at fault for the crash, but this is bullshit. Cavendish was pushed off his line then tried to shoot a gap that wasn’t there. Sagan deserves to be penalized for his actions, although a sprint in full flight plays out so quickly that he wasn’t consciously trying to nail Cav to the boards. His high elbow is what drew most of the ire after the race, including from Cav, but it didn’t even make contact. Bike racing is messy and imprecise, and while reckless sprinting does deserve to be penalized, Sagan didn’t intentionally bring down Cavendish.
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