Bonus Seconds in Grand Tours

[IndianCyclist]

I'm interested in hearing from those who would like bonus seconds on top of (some) climbs (@Pantani_lives @IndianCyclist @SHAD0W93 @burning @tobydawq @Gigs_98 @Sandisfan @Earns1985) if they prefer how it is in the Tour or the Vuelta, or whether they would like a different system.

A different system but similar to the TDF. No bonuses at the finish line cause the glory of the stage win should be enough. No intermediate sprint bonuses after 7 days since they become irrelevant. Bonuses on the top of the difficult climbs like the TDF but limited to a max cumulative time of 2 min. There should be a balance between the gain of seconds vs destroying the team and tiring the leader of that team leaving the leader vulnerable to a counter attack.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

No bonuses at the finish line cause the glory of the stage win should be enough. No intermediate sprint bonuses after 7 days since they become irrelevant.

But yes to intermediate points on the first 7 days? So whenever the opening stage(s) are mass sprints, the first GC leader(s) would not be those who won the stages? Would seem odd, to say the least.

 

[RedheadDane]

But yes to intermediate points on the first 7 days? So whenever the opening stage(s) are mass sprints, the first GC leader(s) would not be those who won the stages? Would seem odd, to say the least.

I would actually like a system where it would be possible for a rider to take the leader's jersey after the first stage by going in the break, getting bonus seconds out on the route, and then sprinting to a podium place on the stage.

 

[SHAD0W93]

And GVA won TA over Sagan by the bonus seconds. I’m sure each year there’s week stage races won due to the bonus seconds. I think Contador has won and lost some of them due to there either being or not being bonus seconds.

And Mohoric will most likely win Pologne today by the bonus seconds earned.

 

[Rob5091]

And Mohoric will most likely win Pologne today by the bonus seconds earned.

Indeed he did! The GC competition was decided by an intermediate sprint.

 

[Netserk]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1851232633591611541

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/1851232633591611541

 

[Peyroteo94]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1851232633591611541

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/1851232633591611541

Trying to not give the yellow jersey to Pogacar early in the race.

 

[houtdffan]

would rather there be no bonuses at all and instead take real times at the line on every stage

if a rider sucks at sprinting, he may lose 20-30 seconds on every flat stage.

would allow a more complete rider to win

 

[Wyndbrook]

Someone will be disappointed.

 

[Peyroteo94]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1851232633591611541

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/1851232633591611541

But we still have bonus seconds for stage winners? In all stages right?

 

[sam6]

would rather there be no bonuses at all and instead take real times at the line on every stage

if a rider sucks at sprinting, he may lose 20-30 seconds on every flat stage.

would allow a more complete rider to win

If a rider "sucks at sprinting" they are not a complete rider though are they?

Personally, I think bonuses at the end of the stage is about right and I do like seeing some other bonus during each stage

 

[houtdffan]

If a rider "sucks at sprinting" they are not a complete rider though are they?

Personally, I think bonuses at the end of the stage is about right and I do like seeing some other bonus during each stage

they are not complete if they are awful sprinters. They should be shipping dozens of seconds on every flat stage if they want to roll in with the peloton

 

[sam6]

they are not complete if they are awful sprinters. They should be shipping dozens of seconds on every flat stage if they want to roll in with the peloton

Oh I see

I think it's a safety thing they don't do that, you'll see a crazy increase in serious crashes

 

[houtdffan]

Oh I see

I think it's a safety thing they don't do that, you'll see a crazy increase in serious crashes

I think we'd see far less dangerous sprints as teams would not bring crazy sprinters. it would be like sprinting was back when it was the 1km rule. far shorter full gas leadouts. That is what causes the crashes, the peloton going full gas for ~5km. Fatigue sets in, making crashes far more likely

 

[Froome]

I am against the bonus seconds in every situation. Only gaps should count.

 

[ingsve]

Bonus seconds should only be in the intermediate sprints and in the finish of a stage in the first week so that sprinters have a chance to fight for the yellow jersey just like in the past. Decisive ITTs should also be avoided the first week for the same reason but bring back the 6-8k prologue.

 

[sam6]

I think we'd see far less dangerous sprints as teams would not bring crazy sprinters. it would be like sprinting was back when it was the 1km rule. far shorter full gas leadouts. That is what causes the crashes, the peloton going full gas for ~5km. Fatigue sets in, making crashes far more likely

Explain why, for example, Alpecin wouldn't bring Phillipsen if this was the rule? I don't see why anything would change. If everyone was sprinting then there just would be more chaos and more crashes

 

[houtdffan]

Explain why, for example, Alpecin wouldn't bring Phillipsen if this was the rule? I don't see why anything would change. If everyone was sprinting then there just would be more chaos and more crashes

maybe Alpecin would

However, Visma would have WVA on leadout duty, Merlier would also be on leadout duty. Any teams with a GC contender would have their sprinters leading out their GC riders

would make the flat stages actually mean something

 

[Pozzovivo]

Does anyone know when and where there will be bonus seconds in next year's tour? Not on climbs but where? Only on flat finishes? What is the point of keeping them there?

 

[Extinction]

Does anyone know when and where there will be bonus seconds in next year's tour? Not on climbs but where? Only on flat finishes? What is the point of keeping them there?

If it's based on overall elapsed time, as it is, then bonus seconds shouldn't be awarded. For it is time one didn't actually gain. If one wins on them, which fortunately hasn't happened (at least in a GT, unless I'm mistake), then the same principle of elapsed time is falsified. It's always been a gimmick, but in the past (as in 1905) there was a more romantic and singularly casino approach. Like gambling, you know, give those a chance to sex it up a bit. Otherwise it's less colorful in a carnavalesque 19th century European way.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Does anyone know when and where there will be bonus seconds in next year's tour? Not on climbs but where? Only on flat finishes? What is the point of keeping them there?

I think we will have bonus seconds in every stage.

 

[Izzyeviel]

The problem with boni's are they are so weak. 10 seconds. really?

go bold I say. 1minute, 30 seconds, 20 seconds, 10 seconds, 5, seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second for the intermediate, then 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute etc at the finish. Make stage wins important.

 

[SHAD0W93]

The problem with boni's are they are so weak. 10 seconds. really?

go bold I say. 1minute, 30 seconds, 20 seconds, 10 seconds, 5, seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second for the intermediate, then 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute etc at the finish. Make stage wins important.

One time in one of the TdF games, I think 2013 or 2014, I got a 40 minute lead with Yauheni Hutarovich due to breakaways and he held on to win by like 10 seconds over Froome.

 

[Pozzovivo]

I think we will have bonus seconds in every stage.

Every stage finish, but not HTF and MTF? I still don't understand.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Every stage finish, but not HTF and MTF? I still don't understand.

I still don't know but I think (and I hope) it is only bonus seconds in mountain tops (except MTF where there is 10s for stage winner).