Bonefishblues wrote:OTOH they didn't just jump out and risk avoidance is a two-way street.
Six of one etc
I don't honestly think so, at least in this particular case. As far as I remember, I think the people in the road were still creeping out sideways even as the riders were finishing, just as I've seen similar things happen in other sorts of racing- they get excited and try to see round each other - with no barriers, there's no limit to where they can end up.
The thing is, photographers with long lenses can't see sideways, they're like horses wearing blinkers. So they don't see any hazard that isn't directly in their lens, and the field of view of those long lenses is very narrow. That type of lens also affects the perception of depth and, therefore, speed. I photograph horse racing with similar kit, and in amateur racing where there are no barriers, I keep far, far further back from the racing line (never mind stand in it) and have with me a 'minder' who isn't taking photos, and who has a complete field of vision and watches for hazards for me, like loose horses careering way off the track.
That finish could easily have had even more riders across the line side by side, and no way could they have all funelled down safely to less than half that road.
We always say about riding in the gutter 'never ride close to the edge in case there is a surface problem on the road etc.'. So why on earth squeeze riders so close just after a finish, leaving them with next to nowhere to go?