Should Remco Evenepoel be Relegated for THIS Sprint | Tour of Norway 2022 Stage 5 

Remco unlocked his new powers by letting hair through his helmets ! He followed the path of Pogacar and is rewarded for that

Remco was fully out of the saddle as he exited the corner , and you want to be riding in as straight a line as possible to avoid crashing yourself - a multitude of factors at play - and brilliant to hear that Remco had spoken to Plapp immediately to discuss if anything was wrong - like that’s just good sportsmanship

I don't think it's severe enough for a DQ in my opinion but I agree that the rules should be more defined as it shouldn't be a consideration if someone is being endangered or not.

If you don't disqualify Bouwman yesterday, then definitely not. However, can we make at a rule to not have a bend in the final 300 meters?

This Tour of Norway series has converted me to Remcomania

Why is the stage designs not being called out more for these type of situations?

He spoke to Plapp afterward. Time bonus for sportsmanship.

This is just about smart racing and smart positioning. Cycling is not just about being the strongest or the quickest, but also the smartest. This sprint, and the one from Bouwman yesterday was not won by the quickest or the strongest, but the smartest. Fair enough

I'm racing myself and for me this rule is for safety only. So the only answer you have to give is, was this dangerous. If not, than it's part of being in a race. It's hard to do such kind of thinking if you have 170something km in your body and are on the last few metres of the race. It's quite clear for me that you can dictate the race from the front especially in corners and that's kind of the risk you have to calculate. Drive from the front and be able to do such things, or drive in the group and get the benefit of the draft. How ever that's just my opinion.

Remco did nothing wrong. On an unrelated note, he's in my fantasy cycling team. #winning

What Bouwman did yesterday was a lot worse imo. That was not a relegation so no reason to even attempt to relegate Remco here

Remco pulled that entire group up to and through that turn. he was fine.

nah....it's a fair sprint....

one thing is for sure, remco is in insane form

As long as everyone sprints like this it's fine, they leave enough space to let them pass the long way round. But what if someone does close the door on a sprinter? Then you have a potential Groenewegen-Jacobsen accident. And nobody wants to see that type of crash happen again. Just change the rules, make it clear what's legal and what's not and if necessary paint some lines on the last 500m of something like that

He should NOT be relegated. There was a bend in the finishing line and the one at the pole position going into the corner has the right of way on how he attacks the sntry/exit line

Come on gentlemen, Remco was in front and Plapp was not even on his side, indeed he had so much space to pass, but he had no legs. Plapp was on the external side and when he understood that he had no legs he complained. Stop being too childish. Remco decided to get a wider radius on the turn and Plapp was not able to overtake Remco. Period!

As an 11-year-old, I won a national championship by knowing I had to be first into a corner, it's just that basic of a rule......As the first man into the corner he assumes command of the sprint and has earned the right to dictate how it plays out.....was he wrong, no, and he won the sprint

IMO if it's a corner, whoever is in front dictates what happens... Rule should only be applied for the straight section

If remco got relegated bouwman also had to be yesterday

Same as Bouwman yesterday. First to corner dictates the outcome. Remco left the outside door open, Plapp didn't have the legs.

lane/line is a stupid way to split hairs imo. Come out of the corner first you can pick your line that your sprinting at to the finish. Wanna eliminate this get rid of corners right before the line, personally I like it. Let it be chaotic. Remco didn't run him into the barriers, didn't swerve aggressively, and didn't deviate from the path he was already taking. Fair play sprint on says me.

I'm already exasperated with riders throwing their hands up and gesticulating wildly, is cycling the new football, or NBA, with people trying to influence judicial decisions with overdramatic antics? Like, Plapp had enough time to take his hands off his bars TWICE in the sprint to the line just to piss and moan. Like, dude could have got on Johannessen's wheel and at least taken second, but instead he went full Ronaldo-mode rolling around on the proverbial pitch. Also not a fair comparison between Remco and the Jumbo riders, he passed Healy on the outside of the corner, as he was sparking his sprint, whereas the Jumbo dudes were just poodling around the corner and then pushing to the line. Sorry if this comes off like Remco fanboying, I'm glad you're discussing the ethics of sprint deviations and course design, it's important for the sport to make sure these finales are exciting and (relatively) safe. Maybe lanes need to be spray-painted into the finish of stages like this, but that would be a whole 'nother kettle of fish.

Every rider in the leed group takes the same line as Evenepoel.

As much as I like Remco, I really hope Johanessen can win the stage tomorrow with Uno-X. It's their home race and they've been so good in all stages (Johannessen only finished outside the top 4 once) so they really deserve a win here!

He was first into the corner, he left enough room. That's racing.

Look at where Healy and all the other riders from the first group ended up, the same line as Remco. So either they followed Remco (their mistake?) or there was another reason like the impetus of going around Healy causing them to take that different line. Why would none of them take the shorter line instead of following Remco? That is also an interesting question.

Flawless sprint from Evenepoel. Plapp had more than enough space... he just didn't have the legs

Hi, Armchair expert here from New Zealand. After much Saturday night debilitation I announce Remco slightly guilty, he must pay Plapp the grand total of six beers, Craft beer though. Something like Cassels or some such. Consider this matter resolved and full and final when payment is made. Ka pai.

I think its easy to analyze it after, but in the moment i doubt much goes on in the head just instinct. Plapp could have been on the limit and just cornered poorly Remco kept a dead straight line after the bend Going in the bend he went from middle to outside but he was first in, plapp was poorly placed anyways

Disagree about the comparison with Teunissen. Evenepoel was in the middle of the road in that corner because he was still overtaking. Teunissen was already on the inside before the last corner

Those MS Paint lines don't lie

Remco's surprisingly well spoken for his age and seems to have a pretty good attitude about things. Pretty hard not to root for him.

It's a simple solution, either rewrite the rules so there is no chance of ambiguity (there are far too many stages where THIS question is asked afterwards), or make it so that the last 500m of every stage is a dead straight line so there can be no question asked afterwards. I am all for creating exciting and drama filled stages, but as a rider, there is no greater pain than suffering through 4 hours of racing only to be robbed at the finish line by an ambiguous rule when you have every chance of a win. There are more than enough chances throughout a race to pit riders against each other to see who is the strongest, they don't need to artificially create it with corners/sweeping bends within the sprint zone of a stage.

Literally basing my supermarkt run on the pod drop, and then my bedtime on the night video. Send help. I even made a twitter account

no danger there. there were like three meters left open to his right

Both today and yesterday my opinion is that it was the following rider (Plapp and Schmid) who was endangering the guy who was first to the corner by trying to move into a space that they knew would be closing. Unless you are **elbow to elbow** , you can't claim that the first rider to the corner should alter his preferred line, regardless of how close the finish is.

Where's the wind coming from? Plapp could have changed his line and use the room instead of complaining. The two pedals he could have given were at a key point of the sprint. I say Remco played gamesmanship as the faster line was on the inside of the corner, unless there was a cross wind.

I think that the connection between the Koen Bouwman giro sprint and this sprint by Evenepoel is quite justified. I think that both are slightly gray, however, what is questionable about their sprint is exactly the opposite. Evenepoel does not really endanger the other riders, however, he ruins their sprint (on purpose) by deviating from the “racing lane”. If others say that the riders behind Evenepoel followed him and that, therefore, it is their own fault: I think that is quite unfair to say it that way. Plapp's wheel overlaped that of Evenepoel befor the corner and could not change that inside the corner. Some others of course could take the corner different, but the slip stream of two riders is clearly more logical to take than the better racing line (ask Hamilton or Max :P ) Bouwman follows the most logical/natural “racing lane” in his sprint, however that does create danger to the other riders. I do think, however, that Bouwman did not intentionally create the danger, for the speed and flow of the corner, his path was most logical. Bear in mind that the corner in the Giro was much sharper than that in Norway. But in the end, what matters most is that he took the “correct” line. As not all the boxes can be ticked in the rules for both of them, neither should be DQ'ed. However, what others, below in the comments say, I would like a ban on corners at the last 300 meters of bike races, especially for flat finishes. At mountain finishes, sometimes there are no other possibilities, but for run-ins where you expect bunch or small group sprints, please have it straight.

Well the comments are almost unanimous saying it was fair. I agree.

There was a lane open at the exit of the corner. But, by going wide RE made the following rider trajectory to the barrier, who then must brake and make a sharp pivot.

okay ill ride along and throw my hands up at the sprint hoping for the dub

He’s racing. He followed the racing line. Nice riding.

If Remco starts winning sprints, the peloton has a real problem :D

Evenepoel did exactly what he should have done. If you're in front, especially on a bend, you dictate the line. Was perfect execution

You can't even see the space because of the public in the way ! There was space to pass him once the bench passed when you see other images

I'll leave this to bigger brains than mine! he did cut him off, but was infront and I don't think he endangered Plapp

the problem is the definition of the rule and the consistency of applying it. Cavendish would have taken that gap so NO.

Poorly written rule, but why on earth do race organizers continually defy rules and common sense in putting bends so close to the finish??????

He knew what he was doing. He followed the outer gates, leaving room enough to pass

Remco shouldn't be relegated for this sprint. There was plenty enough space for even 2 riders to pass him on his right hand side. Not the same story as yesterday in the Giro though. The way Bouwman cut the corner yesterday, he left Schmid only 2 choices: or he went full on the brakes or he went full in the barriers... Schmid didn't have the possibility to go the "long" way round as Plapp could have done today.

He legit just went to the side like everyone would have done XD. It's a race, if you're not in the right position you will lose.

Twas grand, also, Ben Healy, what a race from him, savage stuff

That’s what happens when you don’t help and start too late. Remco earned that and denied a wheel sucker the win.

This is good, because I commented on the Bouwman video yesterday, and it could seem I was being biased because I'm dutch. But here, Evenepoel is a belgian rider, and one I don't really like. I'd prefer if someone else won, let's put it that way. But I really can't see anything wrong about that sprint. Yes he goes straight on out of that corner, where he really should have followed the turn more, but this is the thing about corners, it's always going to be ambivalent, because you can't expect riders to ride around with a measuring tape tied to the barriers. There are different lines through corners depending on your speed and position, and they're down to the judgement of the rider. Can this be used to a rider's advantage? Absolutely, but there is nothing wrong making use of the parcours to gain advantages. Nobody is complaining about strong descenders attacking descents, while you could argue that this is endangering everyone behind them who is forced to take risks to keep up. Cycling is a sport of taking opportunities, this is just one of those opportunities to gain advantage, and Remco took it. Good for him. If they want pure sprints in straight lines, they should standardize finishes to have the last 0,5 always be a straight line, draw lines on the road to make fixed lanes like it's a running track, and disqualify anybody deviating from their lane (how anybody would ever be able to pass anyone else, unless you're in first position on your lane from the start of the sprint is a mystery btw, I really don't see how that could work and be more fair than the current rules). Would that be the same sport? I don't think so. Make it a separate sport, I dunno, "health and safety bicycle pedalling" or something. You could replace the side barriers with mountains of plushy toys and pillows, and replace the finish line with a giant foam pit. Have the whole event sponsored by hansaplast and the national health service.

the UCI is the FIA of cycling; constantly making rules, constantly making decisions no-one likes, and constantly lacking any sort of consistency.

I agree with your assessment as always it’s fantastic, but at 6:48 it looks to me like there’s contact and if there’s contact does it change the outcome. It’s hard to tell because there’s no helicopter overhead shot.

Interesting interview at the end

Remco est en tête et lance le sprint sans faire de mouvement dangereux ni anti- sportif, il a juste la tête dans le guidon et pousse de toutes ses forces, il a laissé la place pour passer aussi bien à gauche qu’à droite, mais les autres n’avaient tout simplement pas la force de passer. Bravo à lui car on dit qu’il fini toujours dernier si il arrive au sprint… Impressionnant

My understanding is that the sole purpose of this rule is to prevent crashes. It is not supposed to remove the „tactical“ aspects of racing from these situations. Under this assumption, a DQ is only warranted if your action seriously endangers another rider. This was clearly not the case here. Also, is following the bend of the corner really faster (not shorter) than going in a straight line, even if that means you have to go 1-2m longer?

Remco seems like a pretty cool dude

One thing is certain. After his spat with Turner during the classics, Remco isn't making any friends with Ineos.

No relegation. All the competitors were already into their sprint coming around the last corner, and the foreshortening in the camera is making it look like it's a sweep out when it's just Eveneopol carving an arc around the bend and into the finish. He left plenty of racing room, and the closest Plapp got was perhaps shoulder to hips.

wow, this video blew up. Remco and controversy, catnip for cycling fans. My judgement is same as in yesterday's Bouwman brouhaha - that is just good aggressive racing.

He gave him enough space and didn't endanger the other so shouldn't be an issue...

Is it just me, or is Remco sounding like he's taken a step up in terms of his racecraft and analysis? As regards the controversy, it's always a toughie when there is a corner within a finish, because holding a lane through a turn is almost never going to be the fastest line

Why do you keep repeating the footage that gives you the worst view over an over, while there is another shot that gives you a much clearer view? In this footage it looks like he pushes Plapp almost into the barriers because the camera is behind the crowd, but the long view, shows that his line coming out of the corner is a rather smooth one, not even close to the barriers. You also seem to forget that unlike the Jumbo guys, he has to overtake Healy at full speed in the actual corner, so he can not take the inside corner like the TJV guy. He is not a sprinter, his ''sprint" is basically riding as fast as possible and building up speed over a longer distance, unlike sprinters who can accelerate to top speed over a much shorter distance.

If a "lane" always is parallel to the barrier, and the road turns, cyclists are 1. not allowed to take the shortest route, unless they are already on the inside. 2. Not to ride fast on the inside, becuase they might drift out. I think the spirit behind the rules are about not hindering or endangering your opponents. This is a hard one. Did Remco drift further out than he needed to, or did he simply choose the fastest route to the finish line? I don't know.

Doesn’t seem as a thing worthy of relegation

Plapp had been sprinting for 60m before Remco started his sprint. Plapp was toast with or without the corner.

I know nothing but deep Remcos´ reassuring voice

If Plapp doesn’t move over towards the barriers than they would hit each other, and there is no way people would watch that happen and blame Plapp. I don’t necessary think what Remco said about having the right to go wherever you want if you are first to the corner is true. This isn’t Formula 1. Once you launch your sprint it seems like the only thing you have a right to do is continue in your lane to the finish line.

Great analysis! Can you do the same for Stage 19th of 2022 Giro D'Italia? :) Thanks!

Needed a few more climbs for vine

That's definitely endangered right there, imagine if the other guy just continued sprinting while the other goes to his path there would be a wheel collision.

Very poorly written title just for views… he is in awesome form and if they actually do more effort for the route this wouldn’t happen

Rules arent good enough, and are never applied consistently. This means this sort of thing happens frequently, with more and more riders trying it

Plapp expected Remco to straighten once through the corner. He kept veering right just as Plapp launched on a straighter line. This caused him to check or crash I reckon. 50/50.

On the velodrome that’s called, a hook 🪝!

I think we got lucky here. Instead of something horrible happening that would prompt discussion, we got this. I think this is on the verge of being over the line, and opens up the door for rules to be clarified, reinforced, or changed slightly to prevent further danger without anyone getting seriously hurt. Idk what the answer is to this but, as per others’ comments, the race directors who made the finish like this need to maybe review finishes like this.

Question: It's hard to see without a helicopter view. But if he turned the corner short like the Jumbo rider. Would the guy in pink in the inside of the corner complain? (theoretically, since that rider is slowing down and wouldn't want to pass him anyway, but for the sake of arguement let's se he is also sprinting for the win) It seems to me not mater how you turn in this corner (and again that's just from this view. In an overhead shot the corner might look different) you always 'cut' someone off, or everyone has to make that turn at the exact same angle and speeds, and that would be impossible in a sprint.

Did he take him on a ride wide? Yes, i think he did a little bit. Yet a thing which needs to be taken in consideration: they had to pass healy right before that corner. Which means they couldnt go really to the inside of the corner, after that, think of what feels most natural to do in a corner on a bike/car: inside in the corner, go to the outside out of the corner, it's just the fastest. These guys are not pure sprinters, you can see this. The line which remco took wasnt completely by the book, plapp didnt jump that gap on the right which every sprinter actually would have jumped in if they had the legs. I think the smartest and probably the strongest just won here.

To me the rules are fine. There is always going to be some sprints that push the boundaries of any set of rules. No matter how strict. This gives a jury some leeway to make a fair call.

He takes the curve rather smoothly given he's out of the saddle, I think this should be considered a reasonable lane for him. There is also ample space to his right.

Late turn by Remco have caused both of them traveled longer distance, but it haven't change the additional distance Luke had to go, to get in front of Remco. Same with turning on an arc. It doesn't matter what radius of this arc is.

I think in this and other similar matters cycling rules should start taking inspiration from motorcycle racing: here Evanepoel seems to follow the most advantageous line, and yes closing Plapp, but there is no danger for the 2nd, as there is still plenty of space between EVP and the barriers. In motorcycle racing this is consider normal practice and smart racing, as long as there is no clear danger (forcing the other rider to slow down = GOOD, forcing the other rider to go out of track/crash/... = BAD). It seems to me that modern cycling is getting closer to motorsport, in terms of race dynamics, technology, safety issues, etc... after all they are riding a vehicle at hi speed, therefore they are going to follow the smoothest trajectory around a corner, more like a motorbike would do and less like runners around an athletics track.

Quick answer: No.

Remco deviated but in a very measured way. In the end he left enough room, Plapp was never endangered. For me, what happened in the Giro with Bouwman and Schmidt, that was endangerment because a crash was very likely. Pretty sure if Schmidt (or any of the others) had crashed, Bouwman would have been relegated. But rules should not be so, that riders need to crash before relegation is applied. The whole point of rules is to avoid crashes. Bouwman, deviated and cutoff Schmidt towards the barrier at the beginning of the turn, while the bikes were still next to each other. Schmidt was endangered because of Bouwman´s manouvre and could easily have fallen. That is endangerment, thus relegation.

Just racing. If we want the rules applied consistently, the finishes must be consistent race to race. That won't happen, we don't even want it to be that way. The rules are much easier to apply on a track. On the road, more room for subjectivity

No because of the curve. Just like the Giro. If it was straight, then yes.

This is racing. The only DQ should happen if you run the other rider in the barriers. And that he did not do. And a wider cornering could get you to take more speed thru the corner.

Well, In this situation Plapp could have kept his momentum and kept racing. He stopped and threw his hands up because he was not getting his planned line, but you adjust and keep going. He should have kept his effort up. Remco made it a bit harder for both him and Remco to reach the line, and he was interfered with but not unreasonably so. But i am not there and seeing it from a long lens. Need an overhead camera view.

What about pulling lane lines on the sprint finishes.... Then it would be obvious if someone deviates

Not dangerous, so no relegation. Evenepoel exited wide through the corner, but that's just smart racing. He didn't move unexpectedly. He didn't put anybody into a barrier (not even close). That's racing. If we want sprinting to look like track and field, we should paint stripes (but I don't think anybody actually wants that).

He does deviate, and chucks in a little extra baulk just before Plapp puts his hand up, which could've crashed Plapp. Fair enough no penalty, but UCI need to make sure to keep it consistent.

LR please tell us - behind which stone is Peter Sagan - what is his next race

Surely if Plapp has time to sit up and wave, then he had plenty of space to race!

At this point, please just widely adopt motorracing rules. Those are way more mature than whatever the UCI can come up with. I’d also like for them to explore drawing some temporary lanes on the ground when its a big bunch finish. Should help massively imo

I think they should paint lanes on the road in the last few hundred meters and make it obvious when someone deviates or not.

INEOS actually being represented in a break? 2022 is out of control