Not all Aussies are like McEwen.

Mart said:

I would just like to say that not all Aussies are total [censored]. Please don't judge us too harshly based on one [censored].

How dare you apologise on my behalf.

Robbies actions were far from sportsmanlike but that doesn't make him a [censored].

When it comes to [censored] in the peloton, Robbie M doesn't rate compared with riders from some other nations.

Maybe you should apologise for yourself for not understanding the pressures of this type of competition.

Mart said:

I would just like to say that not all Aussies are total [censored]. Please don't judge us too harshly based on one [censored].

I personally enjoy his showmanship. Didn't he wheelie across the finish line last year in the Alp D'Huez time trial?
Of course, there again ,I am probably a heathen.

mitosis said:

How dare you apologise on my behalf.

Robbies actions were far from sportsmanlike but that doesn't make him a [censored].

When it comes to [censored] in the peloton, Robbie M doesn't rate compared with riders from some other nations.

Maybe you should apologise for yourself for not understanding the pressures of this type of competition.

How Good was Robbie stage 5.
The man is a legend!

Do a google on Barry Bonds. It could be a lot worse.

From the video footage of the sprint of stage 3, it looks like the "argy bargy" (as Phil Ligget would say) was a bit mutual. I think if you look at sprint finishes from years gone by you can see the same thing many times, and often there is no punishment for it. Those guys trying for the sprint know well enough that there is a good chance that they will contact another rider during the sprint. I'm not sure whats unexpected about that when you have 20-30 guys all trying their hardest to win on a tight road... 😕 😕 😕

Mart said:

I would just like to say that not all Aussies are total [censored]. Please don't judge us too harshly based on one [censored].

Don't worry. I go to Outback Steak House all the time, and all the people who work there are really nice. 🙂

martin_j001 said:

From the video footage of the sprint of stage 3, it looks like the "argy bargy" (as Phil Ligget would say) was a bit mutual. I think if you look at sprint finishes from years gone by you can see the same thing many times, and often there is no punishment for it. Those guys trying for the sprint know well enough that there is a good chance that they will contact another rider during the sprint. I'm not sure whats unexpected about that when you have 20-30 guys all trying their hardest to win on a tight road... 😕 😕 😕

That was more than simple contact. I don't think the race officials had any choice but to relegate, and I think they did the right thing. The impact on dozens of riders screaming up the road behind those guys is too great to ignore it. It's easy to laugh at from the couch, but we're talking about crashes that maim and permanently injur here. I think it was pretty irresponsible myself (and if it was mutual, then it was irresponsible for them both).

roadhog said:

That was more than simple contact. I don't think the race officials had any choice but to relegate, and I think they did the right thing. The impact on dozens of riders screaming up the road behind those guys is too great to ignore it. It's easy to laugh at from the couch, but we're talking about crashes that maim and permanently injur here. I think it was pretty irresponsible myself (and if it was mutual, then it was irresponsible for them both).

I wasn't justifying it at all, but it seems that it is being made a bigger deal than it is. I agree with relegating Robbie to the back, but after that there's really no reason to discuss it anymore--there was no crash and no one was injured. Not sure why its really that big of a deal....

McEwen has a reputation, within the peloton, for being a bully. Maybe its because his team has rarely given him leadout support and he's always had to 'hitch a ride' with other teams.
I liked his wheelie last year and I liked his child wearing a mini green jersey on the podium, but, I never had much tolerance for bullies.
I hear someone say McEwen is the next Cippo, as far as being a character and showman. BULL! With Cippo, you always knew he was putting people on while having a little fun.

Chance3290 said:

McEwen has a reputation, within the peloton, for being a bully. Maybe its because his team has rarely given him leadout support and he's always had to 'hitch a ride' with other teams.
.

That's a good point. I wasn't going to mention it for fear of not knowing what I'm talking about, but I was noticing the other day that it sure seems like he never gets a good leadout like some of the others. They do a fine job chasing down the breaks for him, but they don't have much left at the end it seems and he's usually out on his own. In stage 5 he clearly hitched a ride with Quickstep leadout for Boonen. Worked well though. These guys are friggin fast! I love to see the bikes flex under the stress in the replays... Quickstep and Davitomon-Lotto have got to be getting smoked from chasing down these breaks every day this week with little help. Ideal situation for Discovery...

martin_j001 said:

I wasn't justifying it at all, but it seems that it is being made a bigger deal than it is. I agree with relegating Robbie to the back, but after that there's really no reason to discuss it anymore--there was no crash and no one was injured. Not sure why its really that big of a deal....

And I agree with that too. These sprinters especially must have extremely competitive personalities so it's easy to see how one could get carried away in the heat of things. I suspect even McEwen was secretly surprised when he saw the replay and how extreme his maneuver appeared. Probably didn't even realize how much he was leaning. Like you said, the penalty was granted and that is that. He is still waaaay fast and deserves every one of his stage wins, past and future.

roadhog said:

And I agree with that too. These sprinters especially must have extremely competitive personalities so it's easy to see how one could get carried away in the heat of things. I suspect even McEwen was secretly surprised when he saw the replay and how extreme his maneuver appeared. Probably didn't even realize how much he was leaning. Like you said, the penalty was granted and that is that. He is still waaaay fast and deserves every one of his stage wins, past and future.

Very much agreed...with that much speed and adrenalin and excitement, I bet he was surprised too.

I think the judges were just trying to make an example of him. A crash in that tight of a finish can end the race for half of the GC contenders.

Often with a lot of that stuff that goes on you don't see what leads up to it. The first offence is rarely caught its the reaction to it that usually draws the penalty. Not that I'm making excuses for that behavior but I will give him the benefit of doubt. I don't recall a long record of such behavior from him. Anyway I got a good laugh out of it when it happened. Thats sports after all.

Robbie is a champ. Another great win in the 7th stage.

Go Robbie.....

Good thing there all not like McEwen with a record amount of Aussies in The Tour no else would stand a chance.