I do get it. It made them look pretty stupid. The fact even the commentators couldn't get their head around it. Van Vleuten celebrating the win, other riders congratulating her, only for it to turn out she hadn't won at all.

I think if it had just been "oh no, they've left the chase too late" it would have been different, and as you say that would have been exciting, everyone likes a plucky underdog. The fact is the Olympics is basically the sole global showcase of women's cycling (ignoring the fact that's disappointing in itself), and they were made to look like amateurs. That isn't to detract from Kiesenhofer's result.

Quote from: TrevL on July 27, 2021, 07:18:21 AM
I finally watch the highlights of the women's cycling roadrace, and couldn't help criticise the commentators (with the benefit of hindsight) for saying she had no chance, and it was a mistake going so early etc etc.  How wrong they were, so much for (so called) expert analysis

To be fair to the commentators, Trev, no one would have suspected the peloton could make such a dire error (medications are available for it) in not chasing her down and forgetting she was away in the distance. Under 'normal' circumstances she would have been dismissed as going too early but she made fools of everyone. What a ride!

Interesting. Apparently, Vos knew there was still a rider out front, I'm sure others did too: "There were still three riders ahead and we caught two, so I knew there was one more ahead," Saw that on MSN: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/news/5-conclusions-from-the-womens-road-race-at-the-olympics/ar-AAMzImj.

Maybe all is not well inside the Dutch team   

Quote from: njee20 on July 27, 2021, 09:18:29 AM
Huge crash for pre-race favourite Mathieu van der Poel (yes - the one who was in the TdF yellow jersey a few weeks ago) in the mountain biking yesterday. He's blaming it on their having removed a ramp from a rock drop ...

Another Dutch playing the blame game! It's always someone else's fault - why can't they just admit they goofed? VdP's rear wheel clipped the rock because he didn't jump far enough. No-one else mentioned a mysterious missing ramp.

Slightly unfair I think. He pumped into the drop, expecting there to be the ramp. He didn't clip the rock, he was riding off it! Separate point of why he didn't know it wouldn't be there. Both his team mates and coach said they didn't know why he'd have thought that. I didn't particularly read it as blaming someone else, merely explaining why it happened.

Interesting that the ramp was left in for the women, and nearly caused Jolanda Neff to crash, as she rode off it!

Fair enough. I was just going from what they said on the commentary on NBC. Good to know.

Nah, he definitely 'squashes' it, if the ramp had been there he'd have been fine. Perhaps shouldn't have been gallivanting around France; Pidcock had been in Tokyo for 2 weeks, VdP arrived on Saturday!

At least they let him in. One poor USA beach volleyball player tested positive for COVID when he arrived in Tokyo - they stuck him straight into quarantine in a hotel and they won't let him leave to go home again until he's served his ten days.

Talking of beach volleyball, I see some female team got fined for wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms. Pop star Pink is going to pay their fines for them.

Maybe they'd better start playing in overalls. 

Quite right too. Wearing shorts is diminishing the attraction of the sport and should be stamped out. Says he with impunity, with two daughters and a wife who are never likely to read this thread.

Really though, the Finns and all the other ladies in the sport should be able to wear what makes them comfortable.

Webbo

It is insane that in the same week we had a Paralympic handball athlete told her shorts are too short, and the beach volleyball team told theirs are too long. Given that, in neither case, did it have any impact on performance they really should just let them be athletes and stop the absurdity.

@Webbo I was going to say something similar, but unfortunately my wife and three daughters have been known to stick their heads on here to see what I'm up to 

Quote from: njee20 on July 28, 2021, 09:37:37 AM
It is insane that in the same week we had a Paralympic handball athlete told her shorts are too short, and the beach volleyball team told theirs are too long. Given that, in neither case, did it have any impact on performance they really should just let them be athletes and stop the absurdity.

Well said, that man. Make him head honcho of the I.O.C.

Womens soccer/football:

Australia 4 Great Britain 3

UK missed a penalty and a couple of lucky goals for the Matildas. We'll take it!

Some awesome performances being put in by Team GB across (to mention just a few) swimming, triathlon, windsurfing, BMX and so forth, but there's a limit to how many re-runs I want to see and there are too many commentators who seem to think 'Olympics' begins with an 'A'
I'm really looking forward to the track cycling next week as (a) it is usually thrilling to watch and (b) often results in a medalfest for GB.