Tour Down Under- rider DQ for headbutt

[cyclenut]

http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/More_Sport/0,,2-9-32_2258579,00.html

 

Adelaide - Italian cyclist Elia Rigotto was disqualified from the Tour Down Under on Friday for causing an accident that left Australia's Mathew Hayman with a broken collarbone.

Race officials accused the Italian of "headbutting" the Australian in a frantic sprint to the finish line. He was disqualified from the race and fined, although he insisted it was an accident and Hayman accepted his apology.

"It was a severe headbutt, a very serious incident," Tour Down Under chief commissaire Michael Robb told Australian Associated Press.

"It was one of the worst headbutts I've seen in a very long time."

Erik Dekker, the manager of Hayman's team, said the Australian also thought the crash was an accident and he held no grudges against Rigotto.

"He (Rigotto) said he had his head down and looked up and his head went into Mat's elbow, he didn't mean it," Dekker said.

"He asked 'please let him (Hayman) know, I didn't mean to do it'."

The crash was just one of several accidents on Friday's fourth stage of the tour. The stage was won by German Andre Greipel while Australian Mark Renshaw retained the overall lead.

cyclenut2008-01-25 06:22:55

[Reg Lizard]

Seems like cycling is getting almost as bad as rugby. After the incident the guys always claim it to be accidently. The look on the rugby players faces when being summond by the ref after being caughtout is always priceless. (Who me???)

[The Crazy German]

Seems like cycling is getting almost as bad as rugby. After the incident the guys always claim it to be accidently. The look on the rugby players faces when being summond by the ref after being caughtout is always priceless. (Who me???)

 

seen the video 80% chance that it was indeed just an accident 

[BIGBOY]

Where did you see the video footage, is it televised on DSTV or where can i find some cycling....i am going mad, no cycling to speak of sice 94.7.....withdrawal symptoms, but only 2 more sleeps to some action. Have a great Fast One.

[SwissVan]

Seems like cycling is getting almost as bad as rugby. After the incident the guys always claim it to be accidently. The look on the rugby players faces when being summond by the ref after being caughtout is always priceless. (Who me???)

 

seen the video 80% chance that it was indeed just an accident 

 

 

Wot? Accidentaly on purpose for sure...

Crazy stunt to pull, even if the Rabobank rider was drifting across his line.

 

Pictures courtesy of svowntv.ch

 

Just no way his head got into this position accidentally

SwissVan2008-01-26 10:46:04

[SwissVan]

[I FLY]

Looks like he is a graduate of the Robbie McEwen school of sprinting etiquette.

[Pantani]

Yeah, saw the replay on TV, was bad, that bloke fell flippin' hard! 

I think the problem was that when there was contact his left hand came off his bars and it was down hill all the way after that...

[hot stuff]

Accident My A

[The Crazy German]

Swiss van pics look bad

 

but if you see video its a gradual move across and then an atempt to keep balance when he senses another rider. No intend just stupid not to watch where he was going.

 

my 5cts

[SwissVan]

 

For those who missed it on TV, courtesy of Youtube.com

The crash is shown at +/- 3:06 on the insert

 

 

CG - The Italian a friend of yours?

 

Sure the Rabobank rider did not keep his line, but the Milram rider could have avoided him without "having to use his head" for balance. If you watch the replays you can clearly see he aimed to bump him out of the way with his head, pity it knocked the rabo riders arm so hard...

 

Maybe if he didn't use his head he'd still be in the race....

 

 

SwissVan2008-01-26 14:26:52

[The Crazy German]

 

For those who missed it on TV' date=' courtesy of Youtube.com

The crash is shown at +/- 3:06 on the insert

 

 

CG - The Italian a friend of yours?

 

Sure the Rabobank rider did not keep his line, but the Milram rider could have avoided him without "having to use his head" for balance. If you watch the replays you can clearly see he aimed to bump him out of the way with his head, pity it knocked the rabo riders arm so hard...

 

Maybe if he didn't use his head he'd still be in the race....

 

 

[/quote']

 

 

nope crazy never heard off him before.

 

based myself on this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAL57hLuBTc

 

rigotto comes around the long way and moves in, looking at his handlebars and beleves there is noone around. While he moves towards the left on your screen hwayman pulls out to the right. Rigotto doesn't see him coming. then sees/feels him at the last moment and sticks out his het to keep balance and avoid biing wiped out. Sadly this takes out Hayman

 

Saw it about 25 times now 

[Mountainclimber]

That was definitly foul play! Ive never trusted these european riders they always have something up theire sleaves.

[linnega]

Okay - seen both videos.  Can't see how anyone can claim accidental head butt in this case.  Hayman moved in on Rigotto but was still a good distance away.  Perhaps Rigotto can claim he is useless at balancing a bike?

 

[SwissVan]

 

Well seems like CG was "correct" if you believe what both riders are saying as reported by cyclingnews.com

 

Find it hard to believe what Haymen is reported as saying, perhaps he is being diplomatic...

 

"I don't believe it was malicious - we race together all the time," said a sympathetic Hayman. "I heard he's pretty upset and I really feel for him."

 

"I cried two hours," Rigotto told La Gazzetta Dello Sport. "I have been a cyclist for 18 years and never done anything wrong.

 

Perhaps the clue to Haymens atittude lies herein...

 

"Hayman, who hadn't yet seen the television footage from the accident, said he would have a letter written to him in Italian by Rigotto translated last night. The Australian doesn't expect there to be any bad blood between them in the future."

 

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jan08/jan27news