2019 Giro d'Italia, Stage 1: Bologna - San Luca ITT 8km

[wheresmybrakes]

I don't see why the favourites get to choose an earlier or later time during a TT because of the weather or whatever. It should be out of an hat and take what you're given. It's racing!

Nope, it shouldn't. Since when is racing not about tactics? And based on what should the organization decide the 'right' order?

Tactics lol. So if it's throwing it down on day 2, should they ask the organisers if they can start on a dryer day so as not to scupper their chances of losing time? All the riders are given race numbers, so those numbers go in a hat and pulled out in race start order. like i said it's a race, take the rough with the smooth.

 

[armchairclimber]

Maybe Yates/MS have noticed that a stiff headwind is forecast up the San Luca climb early doors, whilst it is forecast to settle down before the rain is due to arrive.

 

[Rollthedice]

Dumoulin will have to wait bored in a chair for about 3 hours until the last one finishes, or will it be Roglic?

 

[SafeBet]

On paper, Dumo/Nibali/Roglic made the right choice.
But weather has been very unpredicatable these past few weeks. It wouldn't suprise me if it started raining at 3pm or if it didn't start at all. Wind could play a role too.

 

[Alexandre B.]

I don't see why the favourites get to choose an earlier or later time during a TT because of the weather or whatever. It should be out of an hat and take what you're given. It's racing!

Nope, it shouldn't. Since when is racing not about tactics? And based on what should the organization decide the 'right' order?

That's why starting a stage race with a TTT suck.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

On paper, Dumo/Nibali/Roglic made the right choice.
But weather has been very unpredicatable these past few weeks. It wouldn't suprise me if it started raining at 3pm or if it didn't start at all. Wind could play a role too.

At least those three plus everybody else who has some ambitions in this Giro will ride under the same conditions whereas Yates either wants to gamble or has some inside info from NASA or God himself.

 

[Lequack]

The climb.

 

[The Chicken]

Yates explains his decision here:
https://sporza.be/nl/2019/05/10/yates-het-parcours-leent-zich-tot-afwachtend-koersen/

There is going to be one of those ridiculous bike change zones for this stage too, LOL. This bike change stupidity should be banned.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Yates explains his decision here:
https://sporza.be/nl/2019/05/10/yates-het-parcours-leent-zich-tot-afwachtend-koersen/

There is going to be one of those ridiculous bike change zones for this stage too, LOL. This bike change stupidity should be banned.

Why?

It's probably not stupid.

 

[The Chicken]

Re: Re:

Yates explains his decision here:
https://sporza.be/nl/2019/05/10/yates-het-parcours-leent-zich-tot-afwachtend-koersen/

There is going to be one of those ridiculous bike change zones for this stage too, LOL. This bike change stupidity should be banned.

Why?

It's probably not stupid.

Because it looks silly and a messed up change can obv affect the result. Just leave it for 'cross racing.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Yates explains his decision here:
https://sporza.be/nl/2019/05/10/yates-het-parcours-leent-zich-tot-afwachtend-koersen/

There is going to be one of those ridiculous bike change zones for this stage too, LOL. This bike change stupidity should be banned.

Why?

It's probably not stupid.

Because it looks silly and a messed up change can obv affect the result. Just leave it for 'cross racing.

I thought that was the reason. Great argument.

The other argument would not be reason for prohibiting it. It's a calculated risk and if something goes awry - too bad for the rider.

A prohibition of a push by the mechanic after the shift should be implemented, though.

But obviously you can't forbid them to change bikes...

 

[Lequack]

Not going to rain tomorrow until late in the evening.

 

[The Chicken]

Re: Re:

Yates explains his decision here:
https://sporza.be/nl/2019/05/10/yates-het-parcours-leent-zich-tot-afwachtend-koersen/

There is going to be one of those ridiculous bike change zones for this stage too, LOL. This bike change stupidity should be banned.

Why?

It's probably not stupid.

Because it looks silly and a messed up change can obv affect the result. Just leave it for 'cross racing.

I thought that was the reason. Great argument.

The other argument would not be reason for prohibiting it. It's a calculated risk and if something goes awry - too bad for the rider.

A prohibition of a push by the mechanic after the shift should be implemented, though.

But obviously you can't forbid them to change bikes...

It is a fair argument though. You've got an audience of millions, including potential sponsors, all watching the hideous spectacle of tactical - and potentially calamitous - bike changes, which should have no place in determining the outcome of such an event. The UCI should do the right thing and ban this nonsense.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Yates explains his decision here:
https://sporza.be/nl/2019/05/10/yates-het-parcours-leent-zich-tot-afwachtend-koersen/

There is going to be one of those ridiculous bike change zones for this stage too, LOL. This bike change stupidity should be banned.

Why?

It's probably not stupid.

Because it looks silly and a messed up change can obv affect the result. Just leave it for 'cross racing.

I thought that was the reason. Great argument.

The other argument would not be reason for prohibiting it. It's a calculated risk and if something goes awry - too bad for the rider.

A prohibition of a push by the mechanic after the shift should be implemented, though.

But obviously you can't forbid them to change bikes...

It is a fair argument though. You've got an audience of millions, including potential sponsors, all watching the hideous spectacle of tactical - and potentially calamitous - bike changes, which should have no place in determining the outcome of such an event. The UCI should do the right thing and ban this nonsense.

So in the event of a puncture or other problem with the bike, the rider in question should be forced to abandon the race?

I repeat:

Obviously you can't forbid them to change bikes...

 

[JosephK]

Re:

Not going to rain tomorrow until late in the evening.

Yates to scorch everyone in the TT for stage 1. Giro over before Sunday's start. (I hope I'm joking, but you never know.) :lol:

 

[Bolder]

Honest question : are TT bikes allowed on regular stages? I assume no.

 

[The Chicken]

Re: Re:

So in the event of a puncture or other problem with the bike, the rider in question should be forced to abandon the race?

I repeat:

Obviously you can't forbid them to change bikes...[/quote]

lol are you serious? I am talking about bike changes in this particular context, not mechanicals where they ofc SHOULD be allowed to change bikes.

 

[red_flanders]

Zwift to release the prologue as a new course in conjunction with the start of the race: https://www.bicycling.com/news/a27434129/zwift-giro-ditalia/

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The idea of changing equipment in the middle of a serious sporting event can't be taken serious.
Circus stuff.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Chicken

I suppose there could be made a rule allowing to change bikes only if the new bike is identical to the old one. Otherwise, the riders could just fake mechanicals in order to change bikes.

I still don't really get the problem, though.

The idea of changing equipment in the middle of a serious sporting event can't be taken serious.
Circus stuff.

You could argue that they already do that between stages. Actually, there is no discussion; they absolutely do that. TT bikes for time trial stages, aero bikes for flatter stages, light-weight bikes for mountain stages during the same stage race which should fall into your definition of a serious sporting event.

Also, unless you consider tennis, badminton, motorsports, etc. as non-serious sports (I do consider the latter just that, for the record), then you see plenty of sports where the athletes change equipment during competitions. Of course that is mostly due to equipment damage but in motorsports tyres are changed if the weather changes. I can't see how this is much different.

Apart from the fact that it's not very traditional to do it in cycling.

 

[Googolplex]

I guess mechanics could make pretty hazardous moves if the change was allowed only from the car behind as usual, but then again, making an exception to the rules because riders can't ride 8 km with a single bike is a bit ridiculous too.

EDIT: Ah, apparently it needs to come from the car behind anyway. What's the point of the change zone if it is allowed in the rules anyway?

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Chicken

I suppose there could be made a rule allowing to change bikes only if the new bike is identical to the old one. Otherwise, the riders could just fake mechanicals in order to change bikes.

I still don't really get the problem, though.

The idea of changing equipment in the middle of a serious sporting event can't be taken serious.
Circus stuff.

You could argue that they already do that between stages. Actually, there is no discussion; they absolutely do that. TT bikes for time trial stages, aero bikes for flatter stages, light-weight bikes for mountain stages during the same stage race which should fall into your definition of a serious sporting event.

Also, unless you consider tennis, badminton, motorsports, etc. as non-serious sports (I do consider the latter just that, for the record), then you see plenty of sports where the athletes change equipment during competitions. Of course that is mostly due to equipment damage but in motorsports tyres are changed if the weather changes. I can't see how this is much different.

Apart from the fact that it's not very traditional to do it in cycling.

Equipment damage is my new favorite euphemism for a tennis player breaking his racket

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Doggy,
none of the examples offered are in way or shape diminishing my argument.
Try harder or should I say better.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Hasn't this been going on in road races for decades? I recall Ulrich having a special climbing bike he switched to during mountain stages at the 2000 Tour. Furthermore I believe Sagan had a bike equipped with 25mm tires he rode for the first 100km of 2015 Paris Roubaix before switching to 28mm for the cobbles.

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Doggy,
none of the examples offered are in way or shape diminishing my argument.
Try harder or should I say better.

Given that your argument is not an argument but an opinion, it's quite difficult to argue against it.