No radio!

[Kwibus]

We've all seen the WC today and what a fantastic race it was. Was it because there weren't any radios?
WC's are pretty much always attractive, but today it was just crazy. A bit like the old days? I wouldn't know since I never watched cycling in the old days, but maybe an older member can confirm it?

Maybe it was a coincidence, but I think that without radios cycling will be a lot more attractive with a lot more attacking and a lot less controlled.

So what do you think?

And will radios officially dissapear? Because a lot of the time I hear news that there will be no more radios, but so far I haven't seen many races without them.

 

[The Hitch]

Im undecided on this. I would like to see it given a try in GTs lets see how it goes then. But here is the opposite point of view

http://cyclocosm.com/2009/06/the-four-impossibilities-of-radio-free-racing/

 

[Arnout]

One day races so important as this one will always be exciting. The course was suited for it as well, lots of riders could attack (although that also meant that it was easier to control, as we saw).

But I don't think radio had a big impact today. Teams like Belgium and Italy (and also the Netherlands, they surprised me) had to attack because of riders like Cav, Farrar and Hushovd. That was key today, the stronger teams didn't have the best sprinter (apart from Spain, they thought they had the best). Still, everything came together in the end.

 

[Anonymous]

michael barry's perspective
http://michaelbarry.ca/2010/09/two-perspectives/

 

[Izzy eviel]

I don't think it made any difference. Maybe in the case of Hasanovic it did. He was stuck in the middle of no mans land for the entire race. He could've used some guidance.

 

[jaylew]

Don't think it made much difference.

 

[Hairy Wheels]

Don't think it made much difference.

Not sure about that. Some have said that the gap went out so much in part b/c of the lack of direct communication. The subsequent chase softened the field up and the result was some very exciting final laps.

 

[Highlander]

I don't know what impact it had on the road race, but Cancellera was complaining about the lack of radios in the time trial, citing safety concerns. Therefore, this makes me very hesitant to think that the riders were too thrilled about it today and they'll probably voice complaints about any future attempts to remove them.

 

[hiero2]

The WC are usually real unpredictable. And disorganized in the peloton, in the extreme. And have been for as long as I can remember.

The national teams are not the same guys who are used to riding for each other. They don't "sync" well, radio or no radio. The first break might have gotten a little more time up this year due to no radio, but not a significant amount.

My conclusion? Better race without - but not really that much different.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't know what impact it had on the road race, but Cancellera was complaining about the lack of radios in the time trial, citing safety concerns. Therefore, this makes me very hesitant to think that the riders were too thrilled about it today and they'll probably voice complaints about any future attempts to remove them.

What...? Safety concerns in a time trial. I thought cancellara was meant to have balls, hes turning into a right whine recently.

 

[Andrichuk]

What...? Safety concerns in a time trial. I thought cancellara was meant to have balls, hes turning into a right whine recently.

Don't they pre ride the coarse a few times?

 

[Martin318is]

I don't know what impact it had on the road race, but Cancellera was complaining about the lack of radios in the time trial, citing safety concerns.

Of course in Swiss, "Safety" is the same word as "regular detailed time checks"












(yes I DO know there is no "Swiss" language - its just not as funny if you say French, or German, etc)

 

[rgmerk]

Ask the riders about the tactics

I hope the journos - when they get the chance to speak to the riders at some more length - try and find out how tactics were coordinated throughout the race.

That might get a better sense of what difference the radio ban really made.

 

[hoolaparara]

What...? Safety concerns in a time trial. I thought cancellara was meant to have balls, hes turning into a right whine recently.

Maybe thats the secret to his speed, cut off some extra weight and more comfortable seating....

 

[sublimit]

What...? Safety concerns in a time trial. I thought cancellara was meant to have balls, hes turning into a right whine recently.

He should try a club 10 mile TT with all the traffic, negotiating cars on the halfway roundabout section etc etc.

that does sound a lame excuse from Cancellara.

 

[Highlander]

Here's Fabian's quote

"For me, the radios are there for safety reasons because when there is something happening, when something is coming on the road, it means you have to get information whether it is a crash, it is little things that are important."

The full article is at

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/f...ay-radios-banned/story-e6frf9if-1225931179087

 

[Kwibus]

Safety reasons are the imo the only reason to keep radios.

The fact that there is no direct communication causes gaps to be too large before communication informs all the riders. You will see that the peloton will react slower to key moments imo. Or atleast I like to think so.

 

[delgado]

Safety reasons are the imo the only reason to keep radios.

seeing how the riders fiddle with them frantically whenever the race hots up (it's not like they're all hooked up like a hands free call-center guy, there's always a hand that comes off the bar etc), citing safety reasons is somewhat ambiguous.
Big teams command a denser organizational infrastructure, they certainly stand to lose more from a radio ban, but let's call it what it is.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Im undecided on this. I would like to see it given a try in GTs lets see how it goes then. But here is the opposite point of view

http://cyclocosm.com/2009/06/the-four-impossibilities-of-radio-free-racing/

I agree. I am generally in favor of radios, but I do think they neutralize race tactics to some extent. Because of that, I'd like to see a GT have a go at no radios on a variety of stages and see how the tactics play out.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Of course in Swiss, "Safety" is the same word as "regular detailed time checks"

True, and that's half the issue right there. This isn't 1968 with rough time splits on a moto chalk board that were often a minute or so off. Today teams in both the car and on the bike know splits, distances, and all kinds of other information that help neutralize attacks and dumb down the race. That's the problem, not so much contact between riders and the cars.

If safety is the issue, then let the riders be hooked up to a one-way radio that allows race officials to communicate road information to the riders. But as I think about it, before race radios came along can anyone name an accident that would have been avoided had there been radios? I've been around a long time and I can't.

The only other issue then becomes riders going back to team cars or team cars coming up to relay information. But even then, this wasn't a huge issue back in the day.

This also doesn't have to be an all or nothing decision. Other things can be tried as tests. Such as only one rider on a team having a radio. Or limit outside information getting to the vehicles - that is, no TV no broadcast radio, no walkie talkies in vehicles, only information from race officials for safety. Or radios having to be restricted on certain stages in GTs, etc.

Finally, to quote Bernard Hinault: “I am against them. It is only a Game Boy with a gigolo at the end who tells the rider when he must take a piss. With Guimard, we studied the map and the wind the morning before the stage and that was it."

 

[ultimobici]

Saw Michael Barry talk in London a little while ago. He was asked about radios and made the point that the safety issue is more of a problem with radios as every DS communicates the hazard and orders their team to the front. So you have a mad rush all at once.