Course change for Grand Depart (TdF) 2012

[AussieGoddess]

They are changing the course for Stage 1 of 2012 Tour .... to try and attract Phil

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-finish-in-liege-said-to-be-changed-for-gilbert

Since they can change the Green Jersey rules for Cav, and have less time trials for Andy .... I am soooooo glad that they are going to change the start at Liege for Phil

 

[LukeSchmid]

Changing a route to favour a particular rider is wrong and should not happen.

 

[Havetts]

Changing a route to favour a particular rider is wrong and should not happen.

+1.

10charsetc

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Changing a route to favour a particular rider is wrong and should not happen.

basically.
oh well.

 

[Ragerod]

I'm not buying the "it's changed to attract him" line. With the start in Liege he was always going to be participating and really it's just to make sure he wins.

This shouldn't happen and it means I'll be rooting for someone else that day.

 

[Duartista]

Whilst that is all true, having a mass sprint finishing in or near Liege would have been rubbish. I'd raher they improved the route for the wrong reasons than just sticking with a bad route.

 

[Moondance]

I agree with Duartista... When in Liege, finish uphill. No mass sprints in the land of the Doyenne

 

[Nielsa]

What would Cav say if the 2013 route had zero flat finishes?

 

[El Pistolero]

What would Cav say if the 2013 route had zero flat finishes?

You do know they changed the rule for the green jersey to favor Cav right? You do know they only do one long time trial in recent Tours to favor Schlecklett right?

 

[just some guy]

I would have thought BMC would have wanted Gilbert to ride anyway, best downhill to help Evans maybe gain some time and maybe the best besides Evans uphill.

 

[meandmygitane]

Changing a route to favour a particular rider is wrong and should not happen.

Fortunately they didn't tune Copenhagen RR for Breschel at least..

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's pathetic that they changed the route to assist Gilbert in his quest to get the maillot jaune.

It's even more pathetic that they actually considered a pan flat stage in Liège in the first place.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

It's pathetic that they changed the route to assist Gilbert in his quest to get the maillot jaune.

It's even more pathetic that they actually considered a pan flat stage in Liège in the first place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2sKH8yjVsM

 

[El Pistolero]

It's pathetic that they changed the route to assist Gilbert in his quest to get the maillot jaune.

It's even more pathetic that they actually considered a pan flat stage in Liège in the first place.

They changed the route because the province of Liège asked them to. They're paying the bills, so why shouldn't they get to decide what kind of finish they want?

 

[jens_attacks]

better than a bunch sprint anyway.

 

[bicing]

In other news, the Eneco Tour has been relocated to Oman in a bid to attract Robert Gesink.

 

[zigmeister]

Changing a route to favour a particular rider is wrong and should not happen.

+10000

An asterisk needs to be placed next to his name and the World Rankings to say: *When course is tailored to his favoring.

 

[Sophistic]

I wonder how much Evans likes this. He doesnt want his team to work and he doesnt want a teammate starting attacks....

 

[King Of The Wolds]

This sets a very dangerous precedent if it's true.

Btw, a flat course with a flat finish is usually just as entertaining, usually more so if Gilbert is riding, than a flat course with a bit of a lump at the end, although I realise that the general rule around here is uphill equals awsome, flat equals deathly dull.

 

[Duartista]

This sets a very dangerous precedent if it's true.

Btw, a flat course with a flat finish is usually just as entertaining, usually more so if Gilbert is riding, than a flat course with a bit of a lump at the end, although I realise that the general rule around here is uphill equals awsome, flat equals deathly dull.

One would hope that we will see a hilly course with a bump at the end... although a hilly course with a flat finish would be fine, as long as it's selective enough to break up the peloton a bit. There will be plenty of flat stages in the race, so why waste the opportunity for a good hilly stage around Liege?

 

[King Of The Wolds]

One would hope that we will see a hilly course with a bump at the end... although a hilly course with a flat finish would be fine, as long as it's selective enough to break up the peloton a bit. There will be plenty of flat stages in the race, so why waste the opportunity for a good hilly stage around Liege?

I've got no beef with a hilly course with a bump at the end. As previously mentioned, it makes sense around Liege. What I do have a beef with is one rider influencing the route (if true) and the idea that a change in gradient of last 500m makes for a more exciting race.

 

[roundabout]

Agreed. An otherwise same route with just a different finish doesn't add anything to the stage.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If it's just the same, pancake flat stage with just a little rise uphill, then I guess we have to hope Valverde's hit form by then, otherwise it will be just as predictable a Gilbert-fest as the former stage would have been a Cavendish parade.

Actually, to be fair, the first sprint stage of a GT is usually by far the most interesting, because Cavendish tends to struggle a bit in the first one then find his feet and dominate the rest, so it's less predictable (and Cavendish can still win it sometimes, see 2009).

But given the terrain around Liège, making a totally flat stage is just a terrible use of the area, and sure I'm known for hating flat stages, but there's enough of France that's flat and where you can pretty much ONLY make flat stages, we don't need to waste the areas they're using that can make some more varied stage design.

 

[roundabout]

It's not totally flat as they are going over the Baraque de Fraiture which is one of the highest points of Belgium but it would have been a stage for the sprinters without the modifications.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

I'm not buying the "it's changed to attract him" line. With the start in Liege he was always going to be participating and really it's just to make sure he wins.

This shouldn't happen and it means I'll be rooting for someone else that day.

+ 1

Throughout the season, I've admired Gilbert less and less. Nothing to do with winning; I appreciate his dominance, but he just seems like a turd. Changing the route to increase his chances of winning after he expresses frustration only affirms my belief.