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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 28
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Is it just me? I'd like to see the Tour de France be an individual sport.
Disband the teams.. everyman for himself.. When exactly did team play come into the picture? |
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 259
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What an awful idea!
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#3 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 888
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That would be incredibly hard. Harder than it is now. Both logistically (180 some cars to follow 180 some riders) and physically.
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#4 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 90
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How about national teams? That would be an interesting concept. I doubt it would be entirely successful though. Trade team allegiances would probably still influence the race.
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#5 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 619
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Quote:
Read some history, individual, national teams, all been tried before they got to the current format. They made it a team sport because it naturally work's that way given the benefits of cooperation between individuals. |
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#6 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 90
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Thankyou, but I didn't actually need that pointed out to me. I know it's been tried before but it doesn't take away from the fact that it would make it a more interesting race for some of us although it would not be popular amongst the trade teams in the very commercial world we live in.
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#7 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 619
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Quote:
How would it be more interesting, maybe 10 guys would bother. That or there would be all kinds of cheating going on. |
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#8 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 90
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Well it would be interesting to see Armstrong leading a team not as strong as US Postal. It would be interesting seeing a strong Italian team in behind Ivan Basso etc. As for cheating, well collusion happens in every bike race, and a Tour de France with national teams would be no different to a Tour de France with trade teams.
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#9 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 111
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Correct me if i am wrong, but were there not Tours when Merckxx led from start to finish? I don't think he needed a team.
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#10 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 83
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Yeah but he was a freak of nature. |
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#11 |
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Community Team
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: at the bar
Posts: 12,575
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The TDF has had national teams, trade teams and people racing as individuals
at various times throughout it's history. The question is - teamless TDF. Excepting the fact that legislation would need to be passed by the UCI, I think that a return to individual racing would negate the "strong team" premise from Renault 1983 through to Banesto 1990's through to USPS in 2000's. As an event, I think the TDF has suffered because the "team" aspect is now almost as important as the leader for whom they are all working. I would like to see riders race as individuals. Not taking anything away from the TDF winners but it is impossible to really ascertain the degree of help a rider gets (or doesn't get) from his team. There are arguments for and against but in general, I prefer to see racing stripped down to it's barest. I would also like to see instant communication between manager and rider (earpieces) being banned too. |
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#12 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 121
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I have come to the opinion that teams should be de-emphasised. In the Veulta and the giro you tend to see more long ranged attacks by leaders than in the tour because teams are not as strong, though still much less than in the past- say pre 90s tours. As opposed to banning teams- how about reducing their size? Say 6 or 7. Maybe next year the Veulta could try this as they seem to be the more innovative tour. The more I think about this the more I like this idea (decreased team size). Less help in chasing down attacks, more people will try long range attacks, but still enough help available for water bottles etc.. What does anyone else think? Riders might protest (fewer riders get in the tours or have to work harder) I can't think of any real good reason not totry this, except that 9 riders has been the way it's been for a while. |
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#13 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 28
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I'm with limerickman. no team, no radio. you against the masses, and acts of god.
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#14 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 259
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How utterly boring.
Everyday would be like the Olympic road race but worse , because you wouldnt event have 2 guys of the same country working together. I dont think you folk who want this have thought it through.The tactics and nuances of team bike riding make 3 week tours exciting. Watching a prologned Triathalon would see interest in the sport plummet. Thankfully , due to sponsorship , it will never happen.That and the fact the UCI and the TdF organisers arent as daft as some of you people. |
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#15 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 121
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Quote:
It will never happen-Teamless- because of sponser issues. However reducing team size would change the complexion of the race significantly. Reducing to seven would even make it safer. A reduction in team size would weaken teams abilities to chase and make individuals attack more further out. It seems most of us agree a teamless tour will never happen- anybody else think reducing team size might make things more interesting? |
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