greenjersey

greenjersey photo (1997 Tour of Flanders)

It is, of course, understandable that bikers jump on to the pavement to avoid pave but that doesn’t mean it is right. At a kermesse at Wervik on Sunday a 47 year old woman from Waregem sustained life threatening injuries when she was hit by a rider who had jumped on to the pavement in an attempt to move up the bunch. There have been two or three such incidents caught on Eurosport in the last couple of years which suggests that there will have been more not caught by the camera. It certainly makes the racing more exiting to see a long line of riders, full on, jumping from pavement to pavement but serious injuries to riders or spectators or both is the inevitable concequence. Time for the police to enforce the law.

Gert Steegmans has finally convinced Katusha manager Andrei Tchmil that he must rest if he is to regain his fitness. The Belgian developed a problem in the Tour Down Under that has failed to respond to treatment. He says that he is OK in training but if he makes a serious effort he develops a tingling in his buttock and has no power in his left leg.

Steegmans feels that it may take an operation to resolve the problem although he is hopeful that more conservative treatment could put him on the road to recovery. No doubt Tchmil feels that Filippo Pozzato, who is in good form, could win De Ronde and Steegman’s contribution could have been crucial to the Russian team’s hopes. Having watched today’s Brabantse Pijl and the sterling work of  QuickStep, particularly  Jerome Pineau, I am sure Boonen will not be short of willing helpers in Flanders next Sunday.