Race Radio said:
The riders will take whatever position their DS tells them.
You must be new to the sport. Riders have *****ed, and continue to *****, about Spinaci's being banned, Bike weight limits, Helmets, TT bike limitations, Hotel rooms, race food. You name it they complain.
If Team radio's represent such a competitive advantage why did Di Lucca not wear one when he won the Giro, or LBL, Amstel or this year when he got 2nd in the Giro? Why did Ulrich turn his off or pull it out most of the time?
Asked in confidence most riders welcome this ban.
Dude... Please!
Get over the Spinaci bars! Nobody gives a sh!t! (except maybe some PLM at Cinelli) And by all means dig up a few more insightful moments in the annals of cycling history when a DiLucca or an Ulrich pulled their radios out, and 150 other guys in the race didn't. Who f@*#ing cares?
And by please drop the tired cliche' that anyone with a different opinion must be new to the sport. You used to race, now you don't. Get used to it. There's a lot of us out here.
Of course riders b!tch about all sorts of things, just like everyone who posts on this site. As to your assertion that most riders welcome the ban... show me the data, and your source.
None of the examples you site are worth the time, energy and resources to fight about and no one ever will. Communication with their entire team, on the road during during a race however, is going to be viewed by the management of a large majority of Pro Tour team as an essential element of their competitive arsenal. They are not going to give it up without a fight. If you think they are, you must be new to the sport (just couldn't resist).
You obviously want them banned. I am ambivalent about it, but I recognize a political land mine when I see one. The notion that racing will automatically return to some nostalgic notion of a better time and competitive level is just plain naive. The Genie is out of the bottle. Racing is different for a myriad of reasons. To think that eliminating radios will restore former glory is illogical.
But hey... if I am wrong and you are right. I would ask that maybe you could spend some time considering the vast and convoluted elements of the economic down turn. We could use a quick and sure fire solution for that as well.