Cavendish relegated

[Liam O'Connor]

I read that Mark Cavendish was relegated after yesterday's tour stage following a complaint from Thor Hushovd. I've watched the replay a few times and to be honest it didn't look that bad. I've certainly seen much worse transgressions go unpunished. I wonder is it Cavendish's personality or perhaps lack of it - swinging between sheer arrogance and sulky child - which persuaded the jury to unhold Thor's complaint?

[Pete Appleby 3]

Ive looked at the vid a few time to, whats worse is that there is no appeal, the officail said his decision is final

[puddings]

Robbie McEwen (who has some experience at getting DQ'd at the TDF) has said on his twitter that Cav's mistake was to look back - I guess it then in the commisionaires view he was trying to block Thor. I think Liam has a point that some of the penalty reflects the way Cav comes across - the noise about the comments made, the cockiness to the press plus the Isle of Man is against the EU which must upset the French!

[LuigiVampa]

The helicopter view showed that the finishing straight got narrower.Another dodgey refs decision.

[Ashley Webster]

The general consensus is that there was only a minor infarction from Cav and this was made worse by the barrier setting.  One suggestion that made sense was instead of relegating Cav, merely reversing the positions and also points awarded - this would have kept the green jersey race alive and also kept the 'punishment' in line with any mis demeanor.Mind you, as Cav said himself, it puts everything into perspective that they are arguing over points when someone died on that stage in a collision with a Police bike.

[coolboarder]

Columbia f*****d up twice over; managed to help ride their own man out of yellow and Cavendish out of green. He was definitely trying to slow the sprint down and thus impeded the God of Thunder, what's more it could have caused the whole bunch to concertina and crash so the ref. was right, even if we are a somewhat biased. Pity about it all really because Hincapie is such a great bloke he deserved another day in yellow more than Cav the green. Cav's day will come again let's hope it was another learning experience.

[Greg Quinn]

I disagree Cav didnt impede anyone. The barriers were badly placed. The helicopter view makes it pretty clear. Its not about personalities its about performance on the day. "Hincapies a great bloke so he deserves the yellow jersey more than Cav deserved another day in greeen "Thats not the way it should work. If it did I wouldnt be watching. We could do that with the olympics too whoever is the nicest bloke or lady could win. Wouldnt sport be great fun then.

[Exiled]

I'm with Ashley Webster on this one. Everyone I've heard talking about this thinks it was harsh, Robbie McEwan's opinion is that the places should have been reversed.  The guy who made the decision was interviewed and stated there could be no appeal, ( he was a very, very important person) as his decision was final. Cav doesn't help himself, a bit more humility might help his cause.There's nothing the French like less than a smart arse.

[Martin Moore]

'There's nothing the French like less than a smart arse.'There is - a Texan smart arse.

[Mike the bike]

I know we have some forum contributors who have chosen to live in France and who enjoy a wide selection of cheeses, and good luck to them, but we should always remember that the French suffer from one insuperable difficulty. They are simply not British.