Ban race radios - PLEASE

[Pulpstar]

The Orica Green Edge Bus incident has forever sealed the radio ban debate.

It wont happen.

No. That incident was a + point for the radio feed to come from the race organiser's car if ever I saw one, to alert riders of safety issues. Having to relay the message through each individual DS added to the confusion.

 

[woodie]

No. That incident was a + point for the radio feed to come from the race organiser's car if ever I saw one, to alert riders of safety issues. Having to relay the message through each individual DS added to the confusion.

Even if the news had come over a single channel from race officials there still would have been riders scrambling to find team mates and get in to position earlier than expected so there is a high possibility the crash(es) still would have happened.

 

[hiero2]

No. That incident was a + point for the radio feed to come from the race organiser's car if ever I saw one, to alert riders of safety issues. Having to relay the message through each individual DS added to the confusion.

I tend to agree. The bus incident highlighted, in the opinion of many, the dangers of radio use, rather than the other way around.

But time will tell who holds sway.

 

[goggalor]

Bus gate destroyed the safety argument. Some riders were accurately informed by their DS of the finish line move, while some DSs didn't relay anything, and other still only gave information in their native language. If safety is the issue then the organisers should be in charge of the radio, like they're in charge of all other safety issues. But of course it has never actually been about that.

 

[cineteq]

The Orica Green Edge Bus incident has forever sealed the radio ban debate.

It wont happen.

We're talking about team radios, not race radio.

 

[StyrbjornSterki]

Radios favour whichever rider is in the lead because his DS -- who knows where everyone on the road is, as long as the helicopters are flying -- can tell him with a high degree of certainty when he must pursue in earnest and when it's safe to sit in. That is a horribly unfair advantage, and gives fat guys riding in cars too much influence over the outcome of the race.

It isn't necessary that any safety messages should come from the teams themselves. So if you're going to do it on the basis of safety, take the DS's transmitters away. And the riders'.

 

[sps1234]

No. That incident was a + point for the radio feed to come from the race organiser's car if ever I saw one, to alert riders of safety issues. Having to relay the message through each individual DS added to the confusion.

Think a compromise could be reached where the race directors could hijack the team radios and transmit directly to the riders something about safety and course changes. This could also be done for the final 3 km and for that time DS cannot communicate with the team only the race directors with important info.

 

[Boeing]

No. That incident was a + point for the radio feed to come from the race organiser's car if ever I saw one, to alert riders of safety issues. Having to relay the message through each individual DS added to the confusion.

I think I confused race radio with team car radio in the thread. concur

 

[Master50]

Radios favour whichever rider is in the lead because his DS -- who knows where everyone on the road is, as long as the helicopters are flying -- can tell him with a high degree of certainty when he must pursue in earnest and when it's safe to sit in. That is a horribly unfair advantage, and gives fat guys riding in cars too much influence over the outcome of the race.

It isn't necessary that any safety messages should come from the teams themselves. So if you're going to do it on the basis of safety, take the DS's transmitters away. And the riders'.

In fact it is in breakaways where they don't need radios. In most small groups the car is allowed to drive up beside their rider at the back of the group so the DS speaks directly, Riders can take bottles without going behind the commissaire car too so it save a lot of energy. The range of a race radio is little more than a mile and probably reliable for 500 to 700 meters. Team cars in the front of the caravan have some advantage to direct their riders and cars at the back might miss a few calls for bottles, clothing, and service so in the few races where radios are allowed you would be correct that race radios can give minor advantage to the tope 6 or 7 teams in GC but really only to riders in the peloton Another point about riders in the break being directed. Given the conditions I just outlined when a brakeaway forms often the riders get out of radio range in short order. Team cars cannot get behind until there is at least a 1 minute gap Again DS are not speaking to the breakaway riders for a long time and once the cars can get to the breakaway they generally can speak directly