DRAFTING A TRUCK: TOM DUMOULIN DOES IT SO IS IT OK?

I’ve done it, many of you have likely done it too. I’ve seen people doing it in races without any trace of shame. Every time I did it though, and it’s been maybe two or three times, I had that thought in my head saying ‘This is very dodgy’.

You have no idea if there’s a pothole ahead or if the truck is suddenly going to brake hard. I’ve not done it in years though (the daftness of youth) and won’t do it again.

Yet here is a video on Twitter from the account of Spanish Eurosport journalist, Juan Clavijo, capturing 2017 Giro d’Italia winner Tom Dumoulin and teammates training in Colombia, drafting a truck.

The Spanish text accompanying Clavijo’s tweet reads:

‘After what happened with Bernal, it is surprising to still see these videos of professional cyclists.

Clinging to the truck to take advantage of its ‘slipstream’, with zero visibility and braking from having a good scare.

Dumoulin’s is just one example, unfortunately.’

Egan Bernal just last week rode into the back of a bus, which though parked at the time would have got his fellow pros thinking that paying better attention to the roads and not drafting massive vehicles may be a good idea – or at least you’d think so. Bernal was eft needing spinal surgery and though he recovered, it could have gotten a whole lot messier.

What are your thoughts?

Ok or not ok?

Author: Lee Rodgers

Cycling coach, race organiser, former professional cyclist and the original CrankPunk.

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