The UNBELIEVABLE Power Outputs Of Tour De France Cyclists! | GCN Show Ep. 600
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2024
- The power output that the pro cyclists are producing this Tour de France are some of the highest in recent years with some averaging more than 300 watts for 4 hours! However, this Tour has also shown us that power alone cannot guarantee great performances, as the gravel stage slowed down the peloton due to many riders not having the 'skill' to find the right lines!
Dan and Si also go on to discuss some ridiculous fines imposed by the UCI at this Tour de France!
Enter the @Swytchbike competition here! 👉 gcn.eu/WbkrLt
00:00 GCN Show headlines
00:39 The Tour de France so far!
13:00 Cycling shorts
13:18 Schwalbe tyre valves
14:20 Eurobike highlights
15:36 Classified and TRP collaboration
16:01 Tour de France and harsh UCI rules
20:11 Politicians getting rid of bike lanes?!
20:57 Where is Lael Wilcox? content.rapha.cc/us/en/story/...
22:56 GCN membership
22:21 Swytch Kit Competition #AD 🤝 In cooperation with @Swytchbike
25:14 Hack/Bodge of the week
32:59 Caption competition
35:21 Comments of the week
41:33 Upcoming videos this week
Useful Links:
GCN Uploader 👉 gcn.eu/gcnuploader
Visit the GCN Shop 👉 gcn.eu/gcnshop
GCN WhatsApp Channel 👉 gcn.eu/GCNwhatsapp
GCN Instagram Broadcast Channel 👉 gcn.eu/instagrambroadcast
What do you think about the times and power output in this Tour de France compared to previous tours? Let us know in the comments💬
Watch more on GCN...
📹 Bodybuilder vs Pro Cyclist | Tour de France Breakfast Challenge 👉 • Bodybuilder vs Pro Cyc...
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 gcn.eu/editorschoice
📹 Or why not check out our Features Playlist 👉 gcn.eu/gcnfeatures
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #tourdefrance #tourdefrance2024 #eurobike #eurobike2024 #tdf2024 #globalcyclingnetwork
📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images
The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling.
Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more.
Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans - everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races.
Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling
Thanks to our sponsors:
Pinarello Bikes: gcn.eu/Pinarello
Topeak Tools: gcn.eu/Topeak
Canyon Bikes: gcn.eu/-Canyon
CamelBak: gcn.eu/Camelbak
Pirelli Tyres: gcn.eu/Pirelli
Orbea Bikes: gcn.eu/Orbea
Vision Wheels: gcn.eu/Vision
Wahoo Fitness: gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness
Park Tool: gcn.eu/-parktool
Selle Italia: gcn.eu/SelleItalia
Zwift: gcn.eu/Zwift
Silca: gcn.eu/Silca
MET Helmets: gcn.eu/methelmets
Strava: gcn.eu/strava
ShadowStand: gcn.eu/ShadowStand
Precision Fuel & Hydration: gcn.eu/precisionhydration
AGU: gcn.eu/AGUxGCN
Elitewheels: gcn.eu/Elitewheels
Watch our sister channels:
GCN Tech - / @gcntech
GCN Racing - / @gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network - / @gtn
GCN Italia - / @gcnitalia
GCN en Español - / @gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch - / @gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Français - / @gcnenfrancais
GCN Training - / @gcntraining
Global Mountain Bike Network - / @gmbn
GMBN Tech - / @gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network - / @embn 
Спорт
What do you think of the Tour de France so far? Let us know 👇
Fan bloody tastic 🎉🎉
Gravelle!!!
Decathlon sure seem to know a thing or two about building a race bike.
I haven't seen much of the tour this year, although I did see a highlight video of Cav getting his 35 tour stage victory before a mammoth celebration, I just hope his refuel strategy was enough to include that celebration.
It’s another great one! Looking forward to more.
The only thing „damaging the image of the sport“ is the UCI itself and therefore should pay 200 CHF to me
😂 I agree and support provided that I receive my reimbursement from the UCI. 😂
Cav win is the best. Historic
Very sad for Andre and the family. RIP
100% CORRECT
The UCI: “You have no jurisdiction here”
With that bunny hopping I think Le Tour needs a trials stage.
Good idea ;) And cycle-ball
trials on gravel
Hahahah that would shake things up 🤣
Needs a cyclocross stage. 4 CX circuits, double wide of a normal course, and all dry, not wet.
I am 60 years old, at the twilight of my cycling journey, now primarily rides an ebike, and yet, I still have the same excitement watching the GCN Show hosted by its founding presenters, Simon and Dan, I still remember 11 years ago, when this channel started, people throw the word game changer everywhere, well, GCN, is a game changer in the world of cycling.
Thanks Dan and Si for your outstanding contributions to cycling.
Truly, GCN, is the GLOBAL CYCLING NETWORK!!
And thank you! For the awesome comment and the continued support! Cheers, Si
Ya I had just found cycling in my undergrad and was biking to my university campus when I came across GCN back in 2016 ish. You guys taught me everything I needed to know to show up to the club rides and not make a fool out of myself. 8 years later and I'm a geography teacher going back to school to be a transportation planner (and tackling bigger and bigger races). Thank you guys. Hope you hear from Matt and John and all the others every now and then
GCN THE MOST CORRUPT CYCLING CHANNEL a bunch of 🤡s
Must be a 60 year old thing, I feel exactly the same way. I’m Team Si-WD40 😂
UCI is a farce. Full stop. This tour has been a stand-out for me - Cavendish, Girmay, and some polished performances - not least the bunny hop - this feels like a tour to remember
Every drama needs a villain 😉
We're getting watch something special here 🙌
Presenters: Ollie for being an absolute machine willing to take on any kind of punishment, and a fountain of positivity. Si - totally relatable, and ties with Ollie for my favourite nerd. Alex for, well, speed obsession. Manon - for being a good sport, but peaking as DS in Cheddar Gorge (just what the boys needed). Hank - like Ollie - game for anything. Connor - like that younger brother that sometimes makes you shake your head, but you love him anyway. Dan - as the OG with the history and insights. And the combined GCN/GMBN for hilarious cross-overs
Oh we do have a good team don't we 👀
Have loved all the TDF so far but Mark Cavendish breaking the record was my highlight of the tour, was crying, laughing, so pleased, not bothered now who wins, I'm made up for him, all his peers congratulating him, was beautiful to see 🤩🤩
It was epic wasn't it! Had us on our feet here at GCN HQ 🤯
@@gcn it was, the best day of the Tour for me 🥳🥳
We love you too Simon!!! Also, congratulations to the whole GCN crew and staff on 600 episodes!
He IS actually my favorite
Mine too.
Dan: Trust us, we're national level cyclists in MTB!
Also Dan: Breaks his ankle riding on grass.
The dangers of using drugs, eh?
He needs performance enhanced ankles aparently.
Anyone know someone abreast enough in biomechanics to add in some hydraulics, a recarbifier to recycle lost carbs, and an enhanced carb delivery system? Maybe replace the lungs with a NOS tank, really get that mitochondria fired up!
And now the pros do 800 watts on cruise control!
Grass is a different kettle of fish 🤣
Andre Dreger memorial straight into cycling shorts was a juxtaposition
Pogačar did 6.98 ᵉW/Kg for 39:50 min, which is by far the greatest climbing performance ever, taking into account conditions and the stage difficulty. Sea normalised power for this historic effort is 7.27 ᵉW/Kg. Pogačar’s adjusted altitude score was 696, which means this performance was equivalent to pushing 6.96 ᵉW/Kg for 60 minutes at sea level.
And all that with zero doping.
Unlike Pantani Armstrong Ullrich etc.
Super impressive
@@Nebulak187 LOL. They are definitely doping to achieve those numbers. There is no way that there has been a "clean" winner in decades.
Been a fan of GCN almost from the start and for me the Si & Dan combo is best! Not saying I don't enjoy the others, but the rapport and timing between you two is great!
Gravel has been in the TdF since 1903.
Yeah, deep down I think we know why they have so much power output these days, and here’s a hint: it’s not nutrition or marginal gains
And in my opinion this is what the audience wants to see and normal in every competition.
Exactly! In Stage 19, Tadej made up 30 seconds on Matteo in less than a mile, closed a 3-minute gap in under 8km....nonsense!
The officiousness of the UCI always reminds me of Red Dwarf and Rimmer quoting Space Corps directives. The UCI clearly need a Kryten to tell them that they're quoting the wrong directive.
I think bunny hopping is the most useful skill I've ever learned on a bike. Has probably saved me countless accidents/injuries over a few decades of riding.
#CaptionCompetition: Not wanting to waste calories unnecessarily, Jonas waits while the soigneur pre-chews his food. This is sometimes referred to as 'meal-sucking'.
I can't hear "Derek Gee" without my brain rapping "is a bad young brother" (Oh yeah)
I cant hear "bad young brother" without my brain becoming a backup singer for "shaft" (who is the man, that can jam above any other man)
But it was Derek B 😂
@@daz_the_cyclist8961 Yes, but rhyming
Thanks for the 600 and Si, we love you! ... and Alex, and Ollie and the rest of the GCN crew
Roll on the next 600 🙌
Those fully plastic tyres I’m guessing will flake off even more microplastic particles than other tyres which I think are rubber / plastic hybrids.
2 wheel vehicle abrasion of rubber microplastics brake dust etc is not even one in a million of what heavy trucks and big cars produce
We don't need a new valve stem! I just figured out Presta!
I can never get tired of listening to Dan’s. Cervelo Test Team stories
Dan rode for who? He's never mentioned it ...
Did he ride for Cervelo Test Team?????? 😆
“Satan would ride a recumbent.”🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣❤️
Lucifer would, Lucifer meaning the bearer of light. A bunch of old backwards thinking men prescribing 19th century frames (and forbidding cyclists kissing their wives!) won't spoil my fun. Going to ride my velomobile now, just out of spite, and because I can. Come on Hank, let's go!
16:15 I was astonished when I heard on Beyond the Podium that he was reprimanded. So glad y'all explained it! Unbelievable garbage! The tour is something incredible to watch and be a spectator. Kissing his wife and child was so incredibly sweet to me I actually cried!! In fact I was sad that here in USA we don't have something like that. So it was so cool that he could be supported by his family and friends in his home area. Bad call in my opinion. Does the UCI forget that the cyclists are PEOPLE with feelings and lives outside of the tour? For Pete's sake!
Yep. I noticed Pidcock was not among those who ran up the gravelly hill. There you are!
Love the show. Little constructive criticism though for the next time y’all have to do an in memoriam (let’s hope not for a long time) - don’t follow it up with the goofy cycling shorts intro.
Definitely agree, there should been something in the middle there
This year's Tour de France is absolutely amazing. Even the slow days are entertaining. I've enjoyed every stage.
My comment is simple. Congratulations on Episode milestone #600….just fantastic. You gents both inform and make me laugh. Keep on keeping on and best wishes from 🇨🇦
,Happy 600th GCN Show 🥳🎉🎂. Here’s to many, many more.
Roll on the next one 👌
You guys are awesome! Keep doing what you are doing. :)
Great show this week guys. I laughed out loud so many times that my wife ventured into my mancave to see what I was watching!
Cycled up from the other side on the Galibier stage day. Watched all the legends blitz by the last 50 metres of the climb and disappear over the lip on the way back down to Valloire. After the sweep bus passed us I then attempted to descend as quickly as possible through crowd walkers, random team cars and other cyclists. My Strava tells me I was 7 minutes slower than Pogacar 😂 (although I did carry on down to St Michel de Maurienne). Pog for the win! Also, love GCN (always have, always will). Thanks @highplainszwifter
Lastly.. Si is, in my opinion, the best ‘all rounder’ in the GCN team
Completely agree with your observations about the benefits of riders becoming adept at off road/cycle cross/gravel riding to enhance our agility on any and all surfaces. Fun video. Thanks
as Rick James once said "tren, clen, var & epo" are one helluva drug!
As Dave Chapelle said often "RICK JAMES BITCH!"
Dan hasn’t taken that t-shirt off since the Tour started, seen it on all the GCN videos…
Hes still using the same rubber in bed too!
He loves it! 🙌
I thought Simon was going to say "it's plagued by what any massive organisation is plagued by" - stupidity!
Impressive wattage but can't help being sceptical given the past history and the significant improvement on previous stages. Technology and nutrition only go so far and we don't see similar improvements in other endurance sports
300 watts for 4 hours is hardly impressive for a pro. As an amateur I've done it many times.
If they're doping it's certainly not showing up in their power numbers.
I think there are a fair few endurance sports also seeing some big improvements. The Ironman world record was broken at the weekend, and marathon times in running are getting ever faster too.
@byt4fse2 you probably weigh 200 lbs. 300 watts for 4 hours for a 120-130 lb rider is impressive.
Where are you getting the idea that these are improvements? TdF riders are expected to be able to crank out 300+ watts all day.
Then you are not following any other endurance sports because WRs are being shreded constantly over the last few years in almost any discipline
The gravel day was a great addition to the TDF. The tour should be a test of all bike skills.
Gravel at every tour? 👀
I also think that they have set a new bar now, and we should see Gravel, Cobels, ITT and TTT at every TDF.
Si, don’t worry, you’re my favorite! My first GCN video was your Steamboat Gravel race from 4 years ago and you hooked me.
Awesome! Thanks for staying with us 🙌
Caption competition: Jonas Vingegaard wonders whatever happened to Team Skye
The UCI rule number reminds me of Space Corps Directives. Also, thank you Si and Dan.
congrats on your Episode 600!
And counting 🙌
Great news that GCN is now 'independent' again - that said, as big fan of British Eurosport, I'm disappointed that Dan is no longer part of their cycling commentary team. I contacted Eurosport (email) saying that I thought Dan's omission is a loss to their commentary. To be fair, they acknowledged my email and responded generously. Here's hoping that Dan will again be part of the British Eurosport commentary team.
Was great seeing them do lautaret/Galibier having done it the week before the other way round in the marmotte. Brutally cold up there, TdF at least was dry!
Congratulations, GCN, on #600!
#captioncompetition: Seen this one before, E.T. phones home and next thing he's on a bike and it's literally taking off
On the click valve... I suspect it will be fine with sealant. Valves usually seal when they are slowly leaking and the sealant fixes the leak. If the valve is not leaking this should not happen.
If Schwalbe's claim is accurate the higher flow rate and lack of slow pressure load during attachment should also help with this.
Last clue... they are only currently available in stand alone format for tubeless setups.
Caption: Jonas “I don’t want more rain on this stage, so I’m glad the sun is out tadej”
Dan is so humble and lot of ppl could learn from him. He can say avg career however he’s ridden for Cervelo at the giro and tdf. A cool low key guy…🍻
caption competition
Jonas arriving at the bottom of mont ventoux: "We don't have to ride up that massive mountain. Right?"
Caption competition: Should have wore my 3D printed nose rain guard!
Had the original grip shift back in the ‘80s. Big yellow knob on my road bike. Worked well.
that's what she said. 🤣
Finally people are talking about THAT bunny hop!
Caption:
Vingegard looking at the balls that Remco was talking about
4Hr delivering 359wats!? Holly Chromoly!
Bunny hop competition at the tour de France deserves a bunny rabbit jersey
Caption Competition: Jonas’s face when Si asks him to show him what’s on his wahoo.
I had a Garmin etrex summit in 2000 which I connected to a Palm Pilot 3c with a spliced serial cable where I had copied over hand georeferenced map images. Very basic but for a couple of years ahead of the curve :-)
The palm pilot era was so cringe! Mine got taken by the teacher quite often, pretty much killed that.
Serial cables... thank god for universal serial bus!
Suddenly im reminded of the beautiful screech of a 28k modem, somehow better than the evil screech from a 56k. I got good @ soldering a bridge wire after removing the modem speaker. Electrical tape was not enough!
Caption contest: Look at those GCN subscriptions skyrocket!
🚀
Great as usual, I am also wearing that TDF GCN shirt today! Mine is white :)
Thanks for the support John! Dan
My favourite presenters are Si, Dan and Olly. That's the dream team. When they're in a video I know it's going to be sophisticated, funny, and likely to tell me something I don't already know. They usually do the videos with an extra dimension to them.
#CaptionCompetition: Jonas to Tadej at Plateau de Beille: “Tadej, aim that fire hose somewhere else! We’re still down here!” (continuation from last week’s photo)
Thanks for uploading in 4k
RUclipss compression will take a dump all over decent 4k.
You can really get a good view of their complexion 🤣
@@brandonhoffman4712 still better than the average 1080p
@@gcn please don't go back to 1080p ever again
@@bose80085 thats how math works
I''ve seen BSO catalogue 'road bikes' come with that Shimano Revoshift set up out of the box.
Surely recorded before Jonas win, but that sprint with Pogi was epic! The best from a super exciting Tour so far…
It takes some masterful doping . To have one human hit these benchmarks is incredible. To have 4 ? Is doping at its finest . Don't look Greg . These guys make Lance look like a choir boy .
You can generally mount a bottle and pump at the same time using the same holes, they are normally designed that way
Sometimes it feels like you need mountain or cyclocross expertise to handle the streets of NYC
Re: the Click valve ... the Fillmore Valves from Reserve Wheels are the only values I will use moving forward, I can seat a tire easier than ever, have zero valve clogs, and much faster hand pumping on the road. I can't recommend them enough.
Wondering hpw they managed to put those grip shifters on. Were hadlebars cut and reattached at the stem or closer to the hoods? Or shifters were squeezed on part by part and meticulously assembled on site...
BTW, did this with trigger shifters on my tt-crosser (CX bike, ITT cockpit): worked surprisingly fine, much-much more control over frame levers. Quick and reliable actuation too unlike barend friction shifters.
It took 3 years to finally punish Jasperson for reckless sprinting, but an immediate decision to punish Bernard for a kiss.
Caption Contest: Jonas, enjoying a GCN live stream.
Maybe velodromes should intermittently have gravel dumped on them as well 🤔
That's Mountbatten at times 😆
Or make a gravel velodrome for outdoor, maybe some water flowing down on one bank and some potholes on the straight.
@@bergerniklas6647 Skip the potholes, go straight for jumps. I would watch that!
@@PixelVibe42 Or Preston Park!
Hahahaha the trackies won't like that!
#CaptionCompetition : Jonas hearing Admiral Ackbar saying 'It's a trap!'
Gravel at the Tour .What were the roads like when the TDF was conceived?
In the UCI’s zeal to punish those who damage the image of the sport, all they’ve accomplished is to damage the image of the sport.
Regarding the gravel stages, it might be fun to have Cillian the Stats Master find out when the Tour de France was first run entirely on pavement.
Thought he'd left gcn.... 🤔
@@Cyclingallthetime Bummer. I didn't know that.
@@CoachJimJacobsen Demise of GCN+
For the Swahlbe valves the other question is what about the mini pump or Co2 canister you’d need to change? So valves look great but it’s a bigger swap than just the valve cores.
Caption: (in the voice of Jonas Vingegaard) "Good to see streaming back on GCN."
How did si know?!? IT band may not be supple, but it's on the mend - happy 600!
Personally, I loved the inclusion of gravel roads and the test of rider skill. I think your point about it being obvious when riders were less skilled was spot on. It made sense after the stage why Remco in particular was so vocal about not wanting gravel roads in the TdF. This had nothing to do with "fairness" and "luck"; after all, there were very few mechanicals that I saw. As long as you use the right tyres, why would there be more mechanicals? His lack of skill on the gravel roads was pretty noticeable compared to other big names. Constantly picking exactly the wrong lines and trying to ride as if the roads were tarmac.
Si, you are my favorite GCN presenter!
It was nice to see Bob “Roll” in Hacks and Bodges!
@5:15 Pogocar is other level bike handler. Up there with Cancelera and anyone else on the descents.
Those twist shifters require that the bar separates in the middle. There's a reason they are only found on department store bikes!
This is breaking my mind! I dont even want to try and understand how the handlebar innards work on a k-mart bike.
I still remember my department store bike! It had 4 on the floor. A 4spd grip shift on the top tube. It became my loaner bike for friends. It was stolen when I let my buddy Armando borrow it. He borrowed it a lot, I wasnt torn up about it. I had my GT Mach one by then!
2:30 The reason the SlovAlien stayed upright is because the kerb slopes vertically as well as horizontally. He got lucky - his wheel was likely nudged back into the road by the vertical slope.
Nobody seems to ever mention that his little cha-cha slide took out 4 or 5 riders behind him.
@@PaulTomblinI don't know why but "cha cha slide" has had me chuckling for a good few minutes now 😂😂
Do all pro bikers have a little cha-cha to slide on? Or just the male ones?
Never forget Dan finished 9th at the 2009 Strade Bianche!
Someone might need to tell Hank that he's mortal, it frequently seems like he forgets!😁
It's normally halfway through these challenges that he remembers 🤣
Normally, I only get to see th highlights on RUclips, but I was lucky enough to see almost all of stage 9. It was great. As for boring sprint stages, they are far less boring than watching "stock" cars going around in a circle for 500 miles
Very true, even the sprint stage can be a fun 🙌
Before buying my first road bike, the LHBS talked discussed the price difference because of brifter complexity. Given Walmart "road bikes" have the twist grip shifters on drop bars, I'm going to call that one a bodge.
sounds like si needs to go to that hill and show us how it's done. :D. 30mm tires, road shoes, road bike. I look forward to it.
Haha, you know what? I would actually back myself! I may be woefully weak in comparison but challenge me to ride up a technical climb and I'll take you on any day!
Caption competition -
Interviewer : "Can Tadej beat you?"
Jonas : "When Pogs can fly... oh wait, what's that..."
My speculation of the faster descent is the wider tyres. Although I'm nowhere near that speed but from my limited experience the wider tyres are just so grippy even if it's not the top performing one. I got shocked when I switched from 25mm GP5k to something less fancy (Clement Strada USH) but is 32mm, in the down hill cornering it feels like it's almost glued on the tarmac. That's the difference. Pro riders can really push it that could explain the faster speed.
However again I'd like you guys to do some talk about the safety of descending -- under the context of the tragedy of Andre Drege. It was said that the cause of the accident was a puncture at the rear tyre when he was descending at 80-100 KM/h. That again alert me about the safety issue about high speed descent. I know there's high risk involved about this and if something went wrong it could be disastrous. But it never occurred to me that it means death. So what do you guys think about it? I know that it was some high speed but I see on the internet that a lot of guys also do fast descending like 60-80 kph routinely and like it's nothing. Now after this tragedy I can't help but thinking what if the same thing happens and what the consequences will be??? You could be doing nothing wrong but just if something happens, and even the pro skills and medic won't be able to save you, but what about us??? What's the relative safe speed and how much margin should we kept when riding??? I know this is a tricky topic and the smart answer is "it depends", but just what are the rule of thumb here??? And at what speed your survival chance begins to diminish quickly and the consequences become exponentially more severe??? I feel there should be more guidelines here more than just "it depends".
Caption: "Tadej stop! I am trying to nap in this hedge!"
Caption: When you pretend to enjoy the rain because your contract says "smile for the camera".
2:00 I've done that. Even worse it was one of my friends. He thought I knocked him down, which was impossible because there was no way I could go sideways across him. I was behind him not to the side. There was well over a foot of distance between us when he went down.
#captioncontest "Jonas spotting aliens for luck before the stage."
it is becoming more exciting
Riding on gravel is a recipe for crashes and road rash. Especially with a $10k bike.
Yes! Give moar!
Punches vending machine, MOAR GRAVEL!
The old 10k bike is now 16k (tarmac sl8 blah blah) give moar crashes! I want autographed pieces... Just kidding! I dont want to pay $800 for a piece of scrap carbon.
@@brandonhoffman4712gravel riding is crap
Crashes on gravel tend to be less serious than crashes on pavement, because gravel is usually a looser and more compliant surface. I'm not sure what having a $10k bike has to do with the likelihood of crashes.
@@Tarmaccyclocross aww, you sound sad and angry. Did the bad gravel hurt you?
Gravel stages in TDF (and other GT) has come to stay. Makes the competition far more exciting.....