Gravel sectors in road racing

[AlfaLum]

For me it is fine If they do it in some races. But teams should know before they start to create riders programmes. I think with Valencia for example it was known quite early on.

So If you dont want to sent your riders over the dirt section, pick another race. If you only want to sent specialist, sent your classic riders there and not your main GC Guy. If you know it well in advance and you are still sending your GC Guy, dont complain. Thats it.

 

[Roku]

I like gravel and specialists races are awesome. I am in for the odd chance of using it in GT each 3/4 years like Giro does or TdF does with cobbles, but I don't like the current trend of looking for unpaved sections for the sake of it.

Nothing is a gimmick.

Maybe the way they started the short Tour stage in 2018 with the Formula 1 inspired grid formarion but otherwise, nothing.

Okay, I just thought of one more: Kammerslusen that they used in PDR some years ago was pretty stupid.

Super Planche des Belles Filles is a gimmick ending. Early 2010s Vuelta with 5 stages ending in goat tracks steeper than 20% were gimmick ending. The 1 km gravel sector on Valencia was gimmick.

 

[tobydawq]

I like gravel and specialists races are awesome. I am in for the odd chance of using it in GT each 3/4 years like Giro does or TdF does with cobbles, but I don't like the current trend of looking for unpaved sections for the sake of it.




Super Planche des Belles Filles is a gimmick ending. Early 2010s Vuelta with 5 stages ending in goat tracks steeper than 20% were gimmick ending. The 1 km gravel sector on Valencia was gimmick.

I don't agree and I was told I had the con.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I don't agree and I was told I had the con.

So the general rule is that it's alright as long as it doesn't involve a starting grid or a narrow bridge?

 

[RedheadDane]

So the general rule is that it's alright as long as it doesn't involve a starting grid or a narrow bridge?

What about a starting grid on a narrow bridge?

(It would also need to be a rather long narrow bridge, to squeze the entire peloton onto it.)

 

[ice&fire]

What about a starting grid on a narrow bridge?

(It would also need to be a rather long narrow bridge, to squeze the entire peloton onto it.)

The long narrow bridge thing may be difficult. However, ASO might start Roubaix with a grid at Arenberg

 

[tobydawq]

So the general rule is that it's alright as long as it doesn't involve a starting grid or a narrow bridge?

I don't think so. I'm not saying other transgressions can't be made, they just haven't been yet.

Maybe it was also a gimmick when they rode a lap around inside San Mamés in the Vuelta but at least that was neutralised.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I don't think so. I'm not saying other transgressions can't be made, they just haven't been yet.

Maybe it was also a gimmick when they rode a lap around inside San Mamés in the Vuelta but at least that was neutralised.

There's an idea. Include gravel sectors, but neutralize them. There, everybody happy.

You know what? I'd be down for a gravel ITT. A short (say 10k) ITT with mostly gravel, where the teamcar can stay behind the rider in case of a puncture. In this scenario you will never lose more than the time it takes to change a wheel/bike in GC (other than due to lacking skills). Yet also you get everybody to go all out, no softpedaling or no hiding. Riders could chose tires specifically for this stage, experiment with tire pressure, who knows, maybe some idiot would actually try riding it on a TT bike.

 

[Netserk]

I don't think so. I'm not saying other transgressions can't be made, they just haven't been yet.

Maybe it was also a gimmick when they rode a lap around inside San Mamés in the Vuelta but at least that was neutralised.

Remember the Vuelta TTT on a beach?

 

[tobydawq]

Remember the Vuelta TTT on a beach?

Borderline incident

 

[CyclistAbi]

Actually, in 2022 there are a lot more pros training on gravel occasionally than a dozen years ago.

Actually you have a point here. I could imagine that in 2022 there will be an increase of training on cobbles with road bikes. But that trend is due to the necessity and not by a choice. Beyond that i would say that nowadays it is a rather rare thing. From some general point of view. To train on gravel with your road bike and to do that as a pro road cyclist and as a part of your training. Maybe in free time to enjoy some downhill MTB.

 

[Fantastico]

There's an idea. Include gravel sectors, but neutralize them. There, everybody happy.

I'm not really sure how you come to that conclusion.

You can argue for or against gravel sectors in road cycling (same for cobbles, extra steep muritos etc.), from my perspective there are valid arguments for each position. But including sections which are neutralized from the outset, really? To me that's the worst thing you can do to a race.

 

[Bonimenier]

Actually you have a point here. I could imagine that in 2022 there will be an increase of training on cobbles with road bikes. But that trend is due to the necessity and not by a choice. Beyond that i would say that nowadays it is a rather rare thing. From some general point of view. To train on gravel with your road bike and to do that as a pro road cyclist and as a part of your training. Maybe in free time to enjoy some downhill MTB.

I don't think it's by necessity per se. There are quite a lot of pros who enjoy training on gravel to have some diversity in their training.

 

[tobydawq]

I'm not really sure how you come to that conclusion.

You can argue for or against gravel sectors in road cycling (same for cobbles, extra steep muritos etc.), from my perspective there are valid arguments for each position. But including sections which are neutralized from the outset, really? To me that's the worst thing you can do to a race.

It was obviously a joke.

 

[Barkintheeye]

The long narrow bridge thing may be difficult. However, ASO might start Roubaix with a grid at Arenberg

Perfect for the CX specialists, and then a flying bike change when through Arenberg. That would be something to behold. Plus maybe a detour and a second run through Arenberg. The more the merrier.

 

[RedheadDane]

But that trend is due to the necessity and not by a choice.

Is it? Or is it the other way around: More and more races include gravel, because more and more riders have taken to riding on gravel?

 

[hrotha]

Why does it matter if it's not a necessity and not a choice? Riders will always prioritize training for things that are most important for their goals, and neglect things that don't matter as much. Gravel sections are no different from ITTs in that regard - ITT training also used to be more important than it is now.

 

[BlueRoads]

Is it? Or is it the other way around: More and more races include gravel, because more and more riders have taken to riding on gravel?

I'm pretty sure more and more races include gravel because the gravel bike industry has been growing so much, and a lot of leisure riders now ride gravel so are more interested in this - the races try to follow that trend and appeal to viewers.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I don't think it's by necessity per se. There are quite a lot of pros who enjoy training on gravel to have some diversity in their training.

Is it? Or is it the other way around: More and more races include gravel, because more and more riders have taken to riding on gravel?

It used to be you took a spare tire to a training session. Then it was the tire puncture kit. Nowadays you more or less take a cloth.

 

[firefly3323]

I'm pretty sure more and more races include gravel because the gravel bike industry has been growing so much, and a lot of leisure riders now ride gravel so are more interested in this - the races try to follow that trend and appeal to viewers.

+1

 

[Leinster]

I'm pretty sure more and more races include gravel because the gravel bike industry has been growing so much, and a lot of leisure riders now ride gravel so are more interested in this - the races try to follow that trend and appeal to viewers.

Yup. Same reason we have time trials; so bike manufacturers can show off their TT bikes.

I like the occasional gravel stage, when it’s down we’ll, and I think stage races should generally aim to crown the best all-round bike racer as the winner.

I do agree with Trentin’s point about Paris-Tours, though. It was a perfectly good race, that had some excellent editions in the 2000s/2010s, and the organization just completely changed the characteristics of the race to follow the gravel fashion. It’s a bit of a shame for a race with a great history behind it.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Same reason we have time trials; so bike manufacturers can show off their TT bikes.

I somehow doubt that.

 

[jmdirt]

The long narrow bridge thing may be difficult. However, ASO might start Roubaix with a grid at Arenberg

Isn't it just a bridge over a beaten horse...or something like that.

 

[Roku]

There's an idea. Include gravel sectors, but neutralize them. There, everybody happy.

You know what? I'd be down for a gravel ITT. A short (say 10k) ITT with mostly gravel, where the teamcar can stay behind the rider in case of a puncture. In this scenario you will never lose more than the time it takes to change a wheel/bike in GC (other than due to lacking skills). Yet also you get everybody to go all out, no softpedaling or no hiding. Riders could chose tires specifically for this stage, experiment with tire pressure, who knows, maybe some idiot would actually try riding it on a TT bike.

I think there was one, like four or five years ago in Andalucia. Not totally on gravel though, just 3 or 4 kms out of 15 kms. Either the stage or the race was won by Wellens. That's what I recall, not sure how good my memory is

 

[Nirvana]

I think there was one, like four or five years ago in Andalucia. Not totally on gravel though, just 3 or 4 kms out of 15 kms. Either the stage or the race was won by Wellens. That's what I recall, not sure how good my memory is

Wellens won the day before on a cobbles murito and the GC. The ITT was won by de la Cruz.