I think Henri Desgrange (joint founder of the Tour de France) would be in favour of my recommendation that every 3 or 4 years the Tour de France should revert to being every man for himself just like in the days of old (even if the team structure stays for sponsorship). It would make for much greater level of competition and prevent the loss of a riders career as a result of team hierarchy i.e. in the case of the Wiggins/Froome battle, or Froome /porte era or now in the case of Froome and Geraint Thomas. In the past, say 1985 we may have seen a different result with Hinault and Lemond etc. We all know riders form alliances on the road with rival teams in break aways etc so it would be no more than an extension of that, is one of the reasons many outside people don't understand cycling, as they wrongly perceive rules rather than stratergy.
imagine 150-200 riders going back to the cars for bidons and gels that would be a fun sight and when would GC-riders be able to let go of the front to get those gels and bidons when they have nobody to pull other GC-riders back.
I think if the World Championship had an event where only one rider from each team is permitted to participate over a three-five day event. It would be open to top 12 riders in the world. It would include 1. a long, flat stage, 2. a medium TT, 3. a medium rolling stage, 4. a serious mountain stage and lastly 5. a criterium to settle it. Cumulative time wins + bonus seconds for winner of each day. That would be the best test.
No team cars, no domestiques. Mano a mano. If your bike breaks or medical etc, it’s all neutral support. Eligible participants are chosen based on the performance during events of the season. Winners are determined by points awards for accomplishments of tours GCs, winners of jerseys, one day classics etc.
Looks like Sky's tactics is to keep Thomas in yellow to exhaust the rest of the contenders so that Froome can come in with an atack during the last week.
Tungsten Kid Geraint is just one year younger than Froome, I think Wiggins made a good point when he said that this might be the payback to Geraint,to let him have that tour victory for all those years serving to other riders
Yeah my bad, for some reason I thought G was only about 25 years old, perhaps a tad to young to win the Tour, then I found out he was 32 and for two pins I'd have deleted my post before the final stage to save face, but I let it stand, I'm kool..:)
So what's the consensus of opinion, did Froome deliberately hold back so's not to deprive G of the victory, or could F have won if he'd made a determined effort to win it himself?
Yeah Wiggins...You only beat Froome on the back of team orders.. He had you in the mountains when you buckled & he HAD to come back & get you.. Sky dont care who wins out of Froome & G.. wins a win for Sky.. no egos between the pair... Not like you Wiggins.. ehhhhb
Dave Wilson your slagging off a true legend of sport.. an Olympic gold medal winner and tour de France winner and Wiggins has more medals and world championship wins than 99% of anyone.. your making him sound like a mug? put your sensible head back on mate
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I think Henri Desgrange (joint founder of the Tour de France) would be in favour of my recommendation that every 3 or 4 years the Tour de France should revert to being every man for himself just like in the days of old (even if the team structure stays for sponsorship). It would make for much greater level of competition and prevent the loss of a riders career as a result of team hierarchy i.e. in the case of the Wiggins/Froome battle, or Froome /porte era or now in the case of Froome and Geraint Thomas. In the past, say 1985 we may have seen a different result with Hinault and Lemond etc. We all know riders form alliances on the road with rival teams in break aways etc so it would be no more than an extension of that, is one of the reasons many outside people don't understand cycling, as they wrongly perceive rules rather than stratergy.
I like the idea, but it would never work. Riders would be forced to work for their teammates even if there aren't any formal teams at the race.
imagine 150-200 riders going back to the cars for bidons and gels that would be a fun sight and when would GC-riders be able to let go of the front to get those gels and bidons when they have nobody to pull other GC-riders back.
Alistair Milner - unworkable. More individual TT would go some way towards it but do those really make the tour more interesting
I think if the World Championship had an event where only one rider from each team is permitted to participate over a three-five day event. It would be open to top 12 riders in the world. It would include 1. a long, flat stage, 2. a medium TT, 3. a medium rolling stage, 4. a serious mountain stage and lastly 5. a criterium to settle it. Cumulative time wins + bonus seconds for winner of each day. That would be the best test.
No team cars, no domestiques. Mano a mano. If your bike breaks or medical etc, it’s all neutral support. Eligible participants are chosen based on the performance during events of the season. Winners are determined by points awards for accomplishments of tours GCs, winners of jerseys, one day classics etc.
Congrats GT
You were Domestique for Brad in 2012
You deserve it
Each man for himself...great suggestion
Geraint a very deserving winner
Yes, payback. Just like Froome could have beat you in your last TDF win.
For the record, which was the key stage (or stages) in which Froome lost the Tour?
Tungsten Kid wrecked the first day mate!!!
And why did Quintana flop bigtime?
I agree maintain the options, similar to what Movistar is doing.
Because Movistar's tactic worked perfectly.
Froome will give his winning to Thomas like he did for Wiggins.
Looks like Sky's tactics is to keep Thomas in yellow to exhaust the rest of the contenders so that Froome can come in with an atack during the last week.
The contenders only focus on Froome, just like on the Giro no one cares about Yates.
What are you talking about? Dumoulin kept chasing Yates during the Giro and everyone reacted to Thomas this week.
vivoslibertos g
Thomas is good but I think it'll be another couple of years before he matures enough (like good wine) to win the TdF.
Tungsten Kid Geraint is just one year younger than Froome, I think Wiggins made a good point when he said that this might be the payback to Geraint,to let him have that tour victory for all those years serving to other riders
I think you might be incorrect 😬
Yeah my bad, for some reason I thought G was only about 25 years old, perhaps a tad to young to win the Tour, then I found out he was 32 and for two pins I'd have deleted my post before the final stage to save face, but I let it stand, I'm kool..:)
So what's the consensus of opinion, did Froome deliberately hold back so's not to deprive G of the victory, or could F have won if he'd made a determined effort to win it himself?
think again
Wigguieste-o Sir!
Team Wiggins to become the dominant force!"
Yeah Wiggins...You only beat Froome on the back of team orders.. He had you in the mountains when you buckled & he HAD to come back & get you.. Sky dont care who wins out of Froome & G.. wins a win for Sky.. no egos between the pair... Not like you Wiggins.. ehhhhb
Dave Wilson your slagging off a true legend of sport.. an Olympic gold medal winner and tour de France winner and Wiggins has more medals and world championship wins than 99% of anyone.. your making him sound like a mug? put your sensible head back on mate
Lee Walsh Can't argue with him being an Olympian.. However I standby what I've said.. if you don't agree with that.. well that's fine..
Wiggins and Froome, same doping mechanism.
August Marcu doping blah blah blah blah dope doping blah blah blah blaaaaaaah
Yawn