Cobbles in le Tour

[Richeypen]

More please

Flat stages dont have to be dull.

 

[Gloin22]

For me it was more the weather that did the damage. Also there was this pyschological effect that cobbles were present on routeand riders were ****ting themselves that did more damage than cobbles themselves

But other words, yes. Now just PAris Roubaix in rain *prays*

 

[Afrank]

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES...and...YES!!!

Cobbles separates the men from the boys and brings out the best things about cycling. It's racing in it's truest form.

As Descender says...

Cycling mother****ers!

 

[Pulpstar]

Didn't see anyone crash out on the actual cobbles, a good inclusion to the race I think.

Well played Nibali/Astana and Boom today.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

brilliant. I love them. Makes me happy in my belly

 

[Richeypen]

For me it was more the weather that did the damage. Also there was this pyschological effect that cobbles were present on routeand riders were ****ting themselves that did more damage than cobbles themselves

But other words, yes. Now just PAris Roubaix in rain *prays*

Obviously the weather played a massive part but only because of the cobbles. This stage reminded me loads of the Strade Bianche stage of the 2010 Giro.

Stages like today add a whole new dimension to the race as a whole and create true champions, not just riders who weigh 2st and can also TT reasonably well.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Cobbles every year please. Or a Tro-Bro Leon stage would also do the job.

 

[Eclipse]

The more stages that add variety to stage racing the better.

I mean it's 3 weeks, you can have one day for something a bit different!

 

[Echoes]

I know it's the same race promoter but it's very telling that Bore needs to steal Paris-Roubaix's cobbles to get a little bit entertaining.

Cobbles belong to Paris-Roubaix, period. Worst of all is that there are dozens of sections that Paris-Roubaix leaves aside but all the sections of that stage were Paris-Roubaix sections.

The greatness of a Paris-Roubaix is its rarety. Once in a year. Plus a handful of kermess races, that's fine. Too many cobbles kill the cobbles.


I'm against it but of course not for the same reasons as others, of course. When I see all those fanboys whining because it's too inhuman etc of course it kind of makes me advocate for it but I have to stick to my principles !

..and when you see the gaps on such a small part of it, you understand that the full thing is the hardest race that there is !

 

[zlev11]

honestly, nobody can complain about the cobbles. almost all of the crashes were on the tarmac and none of the time gaps were caused by crashes. it was fantastic.

 

[Red Rick]

Not every year, but definitely more often. I think it's a better idea to do it later in the Tour after they've had the first (medium) mountains, so that everyone who is out of contention by then won't bother

 

[veji11]

The more stages that add variety to stage racing the better.

I mean it's 3 weeks, you can have one day for something a bit different!

this. Variety is key, and cobbles are or a little bit of strade bianche /dirt roads are part of it. No need to overdo it or make a yearly fixture, but every few years makes perfect sense. I liked the 2010/2014 rythm : every 2/4 years put a cobble stage in.

What I would like to see in 2017 would be a cobble stage on the last saturday before arrival !

 

[trevim]

honestly, nobody can complain about the cobbles. almost all of the crashes were on the tarmac and none of the time gaps were caused by crashes. it was fantastic.

Exactly, the riders were sorted out based on ability.

 

[IndianCyclist]

The more stages that add variety to stage racing the better.

I mean it's 3 weeks, you can have one day for something a bit different!

Cobbles - Power, For hardmen & Risk Takers
ITT- Power/Area, For Aerodynamic riders
Mountains- Power/Weight, For Climbers
Flats - Max Anaerobic Power, For sprinters
Hills- Combined Anaerobic & Aerobic Power/Weight, For Punchers

 

[whittashau]

There was only 1 DNF today even with atrocious conditions. I'm not sure why cobbles shouldn't be included going forward? The wet caused more issues than the cobbles

 

[MBotero]

Cobbles give spice to the races and the problems today were caused by heavy rain anyway.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Seriously, **** the cobbles, I never want to see them again in a Grand Tour. We have 1 rider 2 minutes in front of all the other GC contenders because he was lucky enough to be in the front part of the peloton as they hit the cobbles. Two guys were with him but crashed. Hate it.

 

[dduff442]

Not every year, but definitely more often. I think it's a better idea to do it later in the Tour after they've had the first (medium) mountains, so that everyone who is out of contention by then won't bother

Good idea but let's face it the lack of a prologue combined with the courses for St #2 and #5 was deliberate to engineer carnage. If any other race did it it would bleed quality riders. Only the TdF can get away with this.

 

[Richeypen]

Seriously, **** the cobbles, I never want to see them again in a Grand Tour. We have 1 rider 2 minutes in front of all the other GC contenders because he was lucky enough to be in the front part of the peloton as they hit the cobbles. Two guys were with him but crashed. Hate it.

I really cant tell if this is trolling or not. If its not I dont think that there are enough face palms in the world to cover it.

 

[whittashau]

There is always an element of luck about it. It's not as if some average and unsavy GC rider put huge time on everyone.

There is a reason it was Nibali and Fugslang up there and not Froome and Pinot

 

[mr. tibbs]

Seriously, **** the cobbles, I never want to see them again in a Grand Tour. We have 1 rider 2 minutes in front of all the other GC contenders because he was lucky enough to be in the front part of the peloton as they hit the cobbles. Two guys were with him but crashed. Hate it.

That isn't luck, LaFlo. There's a reason why guys like Boonen and Cancellara are so dominant in the spring: the stones reward the riders who make the race happen, rather than the riders who follow. Positioning plays a huge role in this, as does being on constant alert and taking advantage of every possibility. PR 2009 is a great example of this. Every time **** got crazy, Boonen and Hushovd were at the front riding hard to keep themselves out of trouble and force others into it. You can't just calculate watts and grind your way back up to attackers.

I would like to see the stones every year. Vive le Tour.

EDIT: Richey, add a poll!

 

[rhubroma]

I have to say the Tour was a debacle today. Froome didn't crash twice before they even got to the cobbles for nothing. He was psychologically defeated before the real race begun. Some like to see this kind of disaster, but not me.

I'd rather see all the contenders battling it out in the mountains. Alas this is not to be the case this year. And it could have been the best clash in years.

And I like Nibali, but if he wins, which could very well now be the case, because he gained such advantage today and while Froome was eliminated; for me the Tour is tarnished.

 

[veji11]

I have to say the Tour was a debacle today. Froome didn't crash twice before they even got to the cobbles for nothing. He was psychologically defeated before the real race begun. Some like to see this kind of disaster, but not me.

I'd rather see all the contenders battling it out in the mountains. Alas this is not to be the case this year. And it could have been the best clash in years.

And I like Nibali, but if he wins, which could very well now be the case, because he gained such advantage today and while Froome was eliminated; for me the Tour is tarnished.

The froome debacle was all because of yesterday's fall, nothing else : He couldn't ride on the cobbles because of damaged wrist and was ready to fold before he even fell today, it was patent in his positioning... He suffered today what Evans suffered with the yellow jersey in 2010 when he had a hairline fracture in his elbow and couldn't pull on the handlebars up the climb.

Again Froome was done and dead yesterday the second he fell and hurt his wrist. Bad luck on him, but c'est la vie.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Seriously, **** the cobbles, I never want to see them again in a Grand Tour. We have 1 rider 2 minutes in front of all the other GC contenders because he was lucky enough to be in the front part of the peloton as they hit the cobbles. Two guys were with him but crashed. Hate it.

Luck is 50% preparation and 50% opportunity. Sounds like the stuff sport is made of.

 

[red_flanders]

Every year? No. More often than not? Yes.