Quote:
Originally Posted by Xrslug
Given how often this happens (at least once a season in a high profile race or stage?), why don’t coaches/sports directors just tell their riders — NEVER post up, just ride hard through the finish and then you can throw your arms up, and if you ever post up early and lose a race because of it, you’re not getting your contract renewed. All of that effort by everyone on the team thrown away because a rider wants to celebrate before they’ve even won the race — one of the few things in a cycling race that is entirely preventable. It’s just bizarre that riders continue to do this when they *know* there are riders within a bike length of them at the finish.
In happier news, highlight of the race for me was seeing how excited Pidcock’s two Dachshunds were to see him at the finish line.
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Counter-point:
I think you'll find that team directors WANT their racers to throw their arms up in victory before they cross the line. Bike teams don't make money by winning races - they make money by providing exposure for their sponsors. Winning race iss just a means to the end, because it provided good exposure. How often do we see a racer who is far ahead of the field actually take time to make themselves presentable for a good photo as they cross the finish line? They'll zip up their jersey and straighten out their team kit, take their glasses off (photos look better when you can see the subjects eyes), and then often point to the sponsors logo on their jersey, because they know that's the photo that will be on the front page of the sports section, and that it will make the sponsors happy.
Obviously, racers have to get the timing right when they plan out their sponsor pleasing photo with their arms up in victory. Sometimes in a close finish they don't have time to throw their arms up, but often they do. Wiebes just got the timing wrong this time.