Devolder on Paris-Tours

Obviously it isn't plain to you that Stijn's radio wasn't working.

Dirk's instructions were good in theory. And if Stijn HAD looked behind
he probably would have contravened his orders. And if he lost the
sprint he might lose his position on the team.

But it's perfectly obvious to Legate what he should have done.

Tom Kunich said:

Obviously it isn't plain to you that Stijn's radio wasn't working.

Dirk's instructions were good in theory. And if Stijn HAD looked behind
he probably would have contravened his orders. And if he lost the
sprint he might lose his position on the team.

But it's perfectly obvious to Legate what he should have done.

dumbass,

read what he wrote. legate was critisizing Demol not Devolder.

Kyle Legate said:

From cyclingnews:

"The winner of the Three Days of De Panne actually respected the
instructions of his directeur sportif Dirk Demol. "He told me not to
ride at all after the flamme rouge," an also disappointed Devolder
explained. "He said it was my only chance to beat him in a sprint. I'm
very frustrated, even if I had theoretically less chances than Philippe
to win a two men sprint. I could still hope to win a World Cup race, it
could have helped me to get some responsibilities for the one day races
in my team where it's difficult to show something apart from the Tour de
France. I didn't want to look behind. If only I could have taken one
turn, we could have made it. I regret it a little bit."

What kind of fool director tells his rider to stop working in the last
kilometre when the field is only a few seconds back? Maybe Devolder
should have a chat with Boonen.

Quoted message said:

From comments that Gilbert made, he (Gilbert) has the reputation of not

being tactacally astute. Demol thought he could goad Gilbert into
towing Devolder to the line. Turns out Gilbert wasn't willing to play
along. Discovery gambled and lost, and as usual when it works you look
like a genious, when it blows up you look like a chump...

"amit" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Tom Kunich said:

Obviously it isn't plain to you that Stijn's radio wasn't working.

Dirk's instructions were good in theory. And if Stijn HAD looked behind
he probably would have contravened his orders. And if he lost the
sprint he might lose his position on the team.

But it's perfectly obvious to Legate what he should have done.

dumbass,

read what he wrote. legate was critisizing Demol not Devolder.

I suggest you take your own advice.

Tom, Have you ever competed in a sprint finish of a "sancioned" race ? I am
not talking about sprinting a friend to a road sign.
"Tom Kunich" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"amit" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Kunich said:

Obviously it isn't plain to you that Stijn's radio wasn't working.

Dirk's instructions were good in theory. And if Stijn HAD looked behind
he probably would have contravened his orders. And if he lost the
sprint he might lose his position on the team.

But it's perfectly obvious to Legate what he should have done.

dumbass,

read what he wrote. legate was critisizing Demol not Devolder.

I suggest you take your own advice.

Do you even have a clue what you're talking about?

NO rider pulls another stronger sprinting rider to the finish line only
to be beaten. Are you suggesting that only Cipolini knows that?

Dirk Demol gave Devolder good advice - to keep as fresh as possible
against a stronger sprinters.

In the final kilometer you cannot use the radio since you can't
understand what your director is saying over the rest of the crowd
noise. I am designing intercoms right now trying to overcome these
limitations so I have an appreciation of the problem.

If Devolder didn't follow his director's instruction and had then lost
he would be putting his position in jepardy. And that's the way the
world works. If he had gone against his directions and won then all
would be forgiven but Stijn obviously had his doubts about their
comparitive strengths.

In short - he was damned either way and that's what racing is all
about.

I'm happy that if Stijn couldn't win, then at least Zabel did.