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I'd think the idea of a GT shoudl be that there should be a bit for everyone, which would include some sprints. I don't think anyone is excited by old GT routes with 7 sprints in the first week.
See, this is an example of how the ITT "purists" completely miss the point. All sporting events, including GTs, are supposed to test anything. They existing for one reason only. To entertain the viewer. If there is no viewer, there's no money in the sport and it ceases to exist.
ITTs are boring because it's not racing. It's just people riding a bike, one-by-one. Why would I waste my time watching that? I know it takes talent and a lot of hard work to be elite but I don't care. Just like I know that every Olympic sport is difficult to do well but it's boring to watch so I don't. ITTs are like watching a football match decided by penalty kicks. I know there's skill involved but it's boring so I won't watch it.
Race organizers know this so they've changed the routes to generate more interest. And the ASO is best there is. Minimal TTs and minimal flat stages are the way to go. And the Dauphine course this year is perfect. 5 stages, all medium or high mountains. I'll watch that!
Also, I'll add that Froome isn't an all-rounder. A great climber, a great TT'er but not much of a sprinter and isn't even competitive in one-day races. He's still the best GC rider of his generation.
And yet the Tour has been the most boring GT (and possibly stage race) there is for a decade now.Race organizers know this so they've changed the routes to generate more interest. And the ASO is best there is. Minimal TTs and minimal flat stages are the way to go.
And yet the Tour has been the most boring GT (and possibly stage race) there is for a decade now.
It's still rarely more exciting than the Giro or Vuelta.You must have missed it last year.
One year of passable entertainment now changes what has been true for 10 years?You must have missed it last year.
For good reason. Because of its importance teams are more risk averse. I like that air of importance around it... that when something does happen it's a huge deal.It's still rarely more exciting than the Giro or Vuelta.
It's got way more to do with team strength and route design.For good reason. Because of its importance teams are more risk averse. I like that air of importance around it... that when something does happen it's a huge deal.
Agreed, though, that they need to do away with their usual 8 to 10 (semi) sprint stages. This time around it's not as bad, but...
On the other hand, the riders dominating GTs in the past decade (Froome, Contador, Nibali) were all late to the party.
The most precocious of them didn't win a Grand Tour until he was 24.
We really have no idea what will happen in the next 5 years.
Contador > PereiroContador had that brain injury and likely would’ve shown up a year earlier in the high GC if not for the team he was riding on at the time. Saiz is on record saying that in his mind, they were going to the 2006 Tour to support Contador.
I don't agree with this.It's still rarely more exciting than the Giro or Vuelta.
Let me rephrase, it almsot never has more action than either the Giro or Vuelta.I don't agree with this.
There were on average 10-12 flat stages before the first mountain stage, but there was at least one long ITT (some times even two), a TTT, and some years the odd cobble stage before they hit the mountains. So no 7 sprints in a row but sequences of 2-4 sprints + TT. 1986 had 6 flat stages in a row. Not all of them were won by sprinters, but none of them was relevant for GC.what exactly do you mean by "old"?
I don't remember 7 sprints in a row in the 70s and 80s...
Let me rephrase, it almsot never has more action than either the Giro or Vuelta.
1986 had 6 flat stages in a row. Not all of them were won by sprinters, but none of them was relevant for GC.
Just a one trick poney.today i rest my case.
most exciting, most complete rider in today's peloton.
Pony, P O N Y. We've been seeing too many goats lately albeit quite cute.Just a one trick poney.
Frigging works everywhere tho
There is more hype around Roglič then Pogačar right now.How's the press in Slovenia handling the hype surrounding Pogacar?