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Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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This is about the best overall rider. Climber, Sprinter, Endurance, Trialist and Team work. Just a fact of life, wanna win the Tour you have to be the complete cyclist.

All the other aspects are real "racing" shoulder to shoulder, individual time trailing is just watching a bloke ride his bike, it's boring as fuck, has nothing to do with teamwork, and yet can decide the whole tour. It just doesn't sit easy with me.
 

nightgoat

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2005
24,604
21,898
What do you guys think about individual time trials as part of the TDF ? I've always had a bit of an uncomfortable feeling about them, they don't seem in keeping with the ethos of the Tour to me, which is all about teams racing side by side on the road. It just doesn't sit easy with me that you can spend three weeks grafting like absolute bastards in torturous conditions for seconds and that ca all get blown away in a day on a time trial which are piss boring to watch as well.

The Tour's had ITTs since 1934, so it's nearly always been an element of the race. That's just how it is, if you want to win a Grand Tour you need to a good climber, a good time trialist, be strong, tactically aware and have a good team around you. The Tour de France isn't just about mountains.

All the other aspects are real "racing" shoulder to shoulder, individual time trailing is just watching a bloke ride his bike, it's boring as fuck, has nothing to do with teamwork, and yet can decide the whole tour. It just doesn't sit easy with me.

Flat stages can be boring as fuck until the last 5km. They rarely have an outcome on the GC unless there's crosswinds or crashes, but they're still part of the race.
 

Col_M

Pointing out the Obvious
Feb 28, 2012
22,637
45,675
All the other aspects are real "racing" shoulder to shoulder, individual time trailing is just watching a bloke ride his bike, it's boring as fuck, has nothing to do with teamwork, and yet can decide the whole tour. It just doesn't sit easy with me.

Start a Petition, you know these Frenchies will love a chance to knock Froome of his perch.
 

dave5150

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2011
766
3,748
What do you guys think about individual time trials as part of the TDF ? I've always had a bit of an uncomfortable feeling about them, they don't seem in keeping with the ethos of the Tour to me, which is all about teams racing side by side on the road. It just doesn't sit easy with me that you can spend three weeks grafting like absolute bastards in torturous conditions for seconds and that ca all get blown away in a day on a time trial which are piss boring to watch as well.

The Tour's had ITTs since 1934, so it's nearly always been an element of the race. That's just how it is, if you want to win a Grand Tour you need to a good climber, a good time trialist, be strong, tactically aware and have a good team around you. The Tour de France isn't just about mountains.

All the other aspects are real "racing" shoulder to shoulder, individual time trailing is just watching a bloke ride his bike, it's boring as fuck, has nothing to do with teamwork, and yet can decide the whole tour. It just doesn't sit easy with me.

Flat stages can be boring as fuck until the last 5km. They rarely have an outcome on the GC unless there's crosswinds or crashes, but they're still part of the race.
Agreed!

Team time trials on the other hand...
Although lucky there wasn't one this year as Sky with Froome, Thomas, Kwiato, Kiry and Landa would have smashed it.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
The Tour's had ITTs since 1934, so it's nearly always been an element of the race. That's just how it is, if you want to win a Grand Tour you need to a good climber, a good time trialist, be strong, tactically aware and have a good team around you. The Tour de France isn't just about mountains.



Flat stages can be boring as fuck until the last 5km. They rarely have an outcome on the GC unless there's crosswinds or crashes, but they're still part of the race.

But at worst you have that final 5km and if there is wind etc it's still really fascinating- just look at what happened to Aru this year.

With time trials you just watch a guy peddle. It has its place in the sport just not on tour imo.
 

nightgoat

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2005
24,604
21,898
Agreed!

Team time trials on the other hand...
Although lucky there wasn't one this year as Sky with Froome, Thomas, Kwiato, Kiry and Landa would have smashed it.

TTTs are great, the teamwork required is immense but then it does mean a GC contender can be hampered by their team's lack of good time trialists. At the same time if one rider has a problem it can completely ruin a race for an entire team like Garmin in the 2014 Giro, or Sky in Tirreno this year.

But at worst you have that final 5km and if there is wind etc it's still really fascinating- just look at what happened to Aru this year.

With time trials you just watch a guy peddle. It has its place in the sport just not on tour imo.

It all depends on where the TT is in the race, the race contenders and the level of their time trialing ability. Obviously Froome is a much better time trialist than Uran and Bardet, but had Uran been leading by 30" there would have been more drama to the stage. As it was, Froome nearly catching Bardet and Bardet hanging on to a podium spot by 1" meant there was still a level of excitement to it, providing you're not French.

A penultimate stage TT will always be a bit dull at the beginning as most riders are just riding to get round, all the action is purely with the GC contenders. But you're forgetting that the closest and most dramatic/exciting finish to a Tour was in 1989, where Greg LeMond beat Laurent Fignon in the final stage TT to win the Tour by 8".
 

onthetwo

Well-Known Member
May 19, 2006
4,583
3,407
This is about the best overall rider. Climber, Sprinter, Endurance, Trialist and Team work. Just a fact of life, wanna win the Tour you have to be the complete cyclist.
What do you guys think about individual time trials as part of the TDF ? I've always had a bit of an uncomfortable feeling about them, they don't seem in keeping with the ethos of the Tour to me, which is all about teams racing side by side on the road. It just doesn't sit easy with me that you can spend three weeks grafting like absolute bastards in torturous conditions for seconds and that ca all get blown away in a day on a time trial which are piss boring to watch as well.
i dont agree about the TTs being boring to watch....(in saying that, im a minor boffin when it comes to the bikes alone).
Id also like to see a TTT at the Tour such as they have in the Vuelta (but figure that the French wont allow it as it would play into Skys hands)....theyre REALLY exciting (also see Hammer Series from a few weeks back).
 

nightgoat

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2005
24,604
21,898
Really interesting and slightly odd to see Warren Barguil will be moving to Fortuneo-Oscaro next season. His stock will never have been higher and he's dropping down to Pro Continental level. Maybe he's leaving because Tom Dumoulin wants to do the Tour next year, but Sunweb have got the makings of a good GC team with the likes of Kelderman and Ten Dam. They'll get plenty of invites to big races but he won't have a strong team around him.
 

nightgoat

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2005
24,604
21,898
Spare a thought for Adam Hansen. He is about to complete his 18th, yes 18th straight Grand Tour. That's ridiculous. He is Superman!
And yes everyone of these riders should be congratulated for just finishing. Approx 3500km in 3 weeks. Hats of to all the riders.

He's not been selected for Lotto Soudal's Vuelta squad, so his record stops at 18! Pretty incredible either way, surely no one will get close to that.
 

nightgoat

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2005
24,604
21,898
I've not really been able to keep up with the first week of the Vuelta due to working hours, but it seems to be going pretty swimmingly for Froome so far. An awful lot of climbing still to go though.

Sunweb have kicked Barguil off the race for failing to stop to help Kelderman after a puncture. I guess you run the risk by having a rider in your team who's already agreed to move, but pretty shitty behaviour from Barguil. Very unprofessional.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,554
Anyone watch the TTT's that kicked off the World Championship today? I think it's weird that teams ride the TTT when it's supposed to be about representing your country but whatever. Bergen is my home town and it showed it's best and most spectacular side today, beautiful place to race. Let's hope the weather stays this nice.
 
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nightgoat

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2005
24,604
21,898
I guess teams would never have the chance to train for TTTs as countries, whereas at least they'll ride a few in competition and train fairly regularly as trade teams.

Anyone else notice this at the first time check?
IMG_3133.JPG
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,554
Mountain Time Trial up Fløyen in the middle of Bergen today. 17% at the steepest! I've seen the crowds on the national broadcast, it's going to have a proper Tour de France-feel. So many people it almost looks unsafe but it'll be spectacular.

Loads of riders considering switching bikes at the bottom of the hill, the tactics there will be very interesting.

Froome, Dumoulin and Dennis considered the three biggest favourites.
 

aussiespursguy

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,437
6,677
Mountain Time Trial up Fløyen in the middle of Bergen today. 17% at the steepest! I've seen the crowds on the national broadcast, it's going to have a proper Tour de France-feel. So many people it almost looks unsafe but it'll be spectacular.

Loads of riders considering switching bikes at the bottom of the hill, the tactics there will be very interesting.

Froome, Dumoulin and Dennis considered the three biggest favourites.
That climb will probably count Rohan Dennis out i think.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,554
That climb will probably count Rohan Dennis out i think.
Yeah I'm a bit surprised the press here have him as a favourite but perhaps they know something we don't. Think we can definitely count the likes of Tony Martin out.
 

nightgoat

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2005
24,604
21,898
Yeah I'm a bit surprised the press here have him as a favourite but perhaps they know something we don't. Think we can definitely count the likes of Tony Martin out.

Tony Martin's only won one TT this year, he's not been anywhere near his usual dominant form. With the distance and the climb factored in I think Dumoulin should be the overwhelming favourite. If Froome's carried his form and condition from the Vuelta I think he'll podium as well.
 

aussiespursguy

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,437
6,677
I was trying to think of a guy I had thought could be a real chance. the commentator then said his name!. Roglic. The former ski jumper. He can really time trial well, and the bugger can climb. Lets see what happens.
 
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