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> She was with a pro-team Only in 2017. She quit a Belgian pro-team shortly after she joined [1]. Quote from the linked article: "I noticed that professional s

by mkurz 5y ago

> She was with a pro-team Only in 2017. She quit a Belgian pro-team shortly after she joined [1]. Quote from the linked article: "I noticed that professional sport is too much physical and psychological stress for me and that I prefer to only do hobby sport" > but it isn't a simple amateur beating out all the pros story. IMHO she probably is not really just an amateur, but also not a pro. I mean, she is 30, doing her post-doc at EPFL Lausanne right now... It's not like training is the only thing she spends her time with. Also not sure if she has sponsors. And to everyone here on HN saying that the Dutch riders didn't know there was someone in front: These are professional athletes, competing at the olympics. If the Dutch's claim is true, it's their own fault. Knowing who is/how many are in front is part of the game. And they lost that game. Also Kiesenhofer was ahead 1:15 minutes. It's not like that's nothing. Even if the Dutch would have chased her, is it sure they would have beaten her? I am not sure... The point being: Kiesenhofer won, no matter what. [1] https://sport.orf.at/tokyo2020/stories/3081410 https://sport.orf.at/tokyo2020/stories/3081410

rocqua 5y ago
It is definitely the mistake of the dutch riders, and the dutch team. From reports, it might also be issue with communication between the organization and the dutch team. There were complaints about unclarity of information for the riders. If true that probably is something the organization to do better. But 'our girls' could have done better. My read is that: being used to having communication; hubris and situational awareness mistakes; unclear signaling of gaps to the riders; and a spotty cell connection in the coach's car combined to the Dutch riders making a very bad mistake. What would have happened without this mistake is an unkowanle what-if. My money would be on Kiesemhofer having been caught, given how quickly the gap was shrinking at the end. But that what if doesn't matter as much as the huge mistake that prevented it from materializing.

by mkurz 5y ago

rocqua 5y ago

It is definitely the mistake of the dutch riders, and the dutch team. From reports, it might also be issue with communication between the organization and the dutch team. There were complaints about unclarity of information for the riders. If true that probably is something the organization to do better. But 'our girls' could have done better. My read is that: being used to having communication; hubris and situational awareness mistakes; unclear signaling of gaps to the riders; and a spotty cell connection in the coach's car combined to the Dutch riders making a very bad mistake. What would have happened without this mistake is an unkowanle what-if. My money would be on Kiesemhofer having been caught, given how quickly the gap was shrinking at the end. But that what if doesn't matter as much as the huge mistake that prevented it from materializing.