dlwssonic said:
Have you been watching last years tour and the first week of this years tour at all.
BMC ALWAYS have some riders at the front to protect cadel especially in the later parts of a stage. Its not like they were specially doing it yesterday to take advantage of the situation.
This tactic that BMC has used has always paid off very well for them. Cadel and TJVG have been kept at the front constantly this first week and have not been involved in any of the crashes.
Yes I did watch last years tour (and replays over the last year of the stages where there was exciting stages - mainly then ones where there was a great solo effort) and I have watched this years stages as well as most stage races this year. I am aware that it is BMCs tactic and that of Sky and was the tactic of US poastal. It might bring 'wins' to those teams but it destroys any race and makes it a complete borefest. It also makes it dangerous that while these teams just sit there to defend there position, teams that want to race have to fight through to get to their 'racers' to the front. The consequence is all the crashing.
Winning the BMC or Sky way by neutrailising the oppostion and people crashing out does nothing for the sport. Hollow victories. I want to watch people winning by racing, attacking and being prepared to loose, by using their own skills. It was great to see Westra at the Giro with his solo burst on the last but one day. That is the way to win races and type of GC racing I want to watch.
Yes I might be old fashioned because I believe in good sportsmanship. If you go the BMC/Sky route you are not going to increase the cycling audience. Tomorrow there is the choice of watching live The British Formula 1 Grand prix, the Mens Final at Wimbledon or TdF. I will be watching the F1 or Tennis live and the TdF recording. Even then, depending on the results, I might end up fast forwarding a lot.
I know looking at another thread I am not the only one with this view.