Video: Inflatable arch deflates on speeding Gesink in Swiss TT

The inflatable advertising arch that deflated as Dutch rider Robert Gesink sped towards it in the Tour de Suisse opening time trial on Saturday.

 

Robert Gesink may have been going full gas at the Tour de Suisse opening time trial on Saturday, but an inflatable advertising banner stretching across the road ran out of gas as the Dutch climber approached.

Luckily the LottoNL-Jumbo rider managed to sneak under it before it completely deflated.

He just about cleared the arch as it was losing gas and falling onto the road; the rider helped by some of those by the roadside he held it up just enough for him to pass under ducking a little bit as he went.

However, his team car behind was not as lucky.

With the arch falling towards the tarmac as Gesink passed under, it was a little lower when the team car was about to pass under it just behind the rider.

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And with a roof rack full of bikes and wheels, the car would have almost certainly ripped the arch with it as it went and so stopped for it to be cleared from his path, Gesink continuing on up the road with his support car for a time.

The team's sport director Jan Boven said the incident made no difference to the rider's performance.

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"No, the collapsing banner was not an influence,” said Boven.

“Gesink had to stop but it has made no difference. Gesink is not a specialist in these short time trials and he set good time for his level."

Gesink finished in 34th place, some 22 seconds down on victor Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) in the 6.4km test in Baar.

Cancellara beat Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal) by 1 second, with Luke Durbridge (Orica-GreenEdge) another second back.

The only Irishman in the race, Matt Brammeier was 122nd, some 45 seconds back.

His Dimension Data team is looking for stage opportunities rather than riding for the overall, which can be good news for Brammeier.

 

Full Gas Vs No Gas

 

 

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