Chris Froome made it look easy when he sprang from the pack and descended to victory on stage 8 of 2016 Tour de France. But when the amateur cyclist in the clip below tried to copy the Team Sky leader’s ‘pedalling while aero-tucked’ trick, he wasn’t long coming unstuck.
If you look closely you’ll see the moment he tries to pedal – as Froome was able to – it all went wrong. He immediately lost control descending what looks like a highway with plenty of other traffic around. He crashed to the tarmac as his bike flew off in the other direction.
And most worrying is the sight of a truck in the other lane slamming on the brakes – smoke coming from its wheels – as the rider bounces into the middle of the road.
Should you descend like Chris Froome? No, and here's why
Posted by Cycling Today on Thursday, March 30, 2017
Someday we will all wear decent protection. It will have to come from the pros first. And though they are the most skilled, the crash the most also. Because of the competition of course. There will be a day in the future when we can walk away from crashes with our skin intact, and our shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, hips, backs and face not pounded into the pavement without some barrier in between.