well it seems those FOUR riders don't care... DZ's story is a ****er!
Good to revive this thread I think, ain't much racing to talk about, and Contador's contract woes are boring now.
In regard to radios, the only problem I have with the ban, and this is the only problem is....
During a frantic stage of the TDF (can't remember the stage), Andy Schleck flatted with about 5km to go (so 2km outside the 3km safe zone). Within ten seconds of the TV camera picking this up, Andy had big Jens Voight, plus a couple other Saxo riders Team-Time-Trialling him back up to the bunch, and therefore, he didn't lose any unneccessary time in the GC placings.
I would hate to see someone lose a GC for an ill-timed puncture (oh wait, we just saw that at the Vuelta). Getting a puncture that close to the finish, is not dangerous, but could be devasting to the overall classification. Obviously, without radios, the team riders would probably stick together in the final 5km, but even so it would be a terrible way to lose the tour if a rider can't jump on the radio in 2 seconds and say "I have a flat" and 2 seconds later the DS says "Everyone drop back, our leader flatted". That's a 4 second response to a flat tire in the final 5km, which could be crucial. The alternative is the leader yells to his teammates "I have a flat", the riders who heard him drop back, they wait for the team car, and then the DS finds out.. a lot slower, and a potential waste of precious GC seconds
I think a reasonable middle-ground suggestion (and I think it's been suggested already) is that ONE designated team captain gets a radio. This encourages teammates to ride together in the peleton but also allows the DS to provide suggestions and the captain to relay these to his team. Personally, I'd hate to have a DS yelling in my ear all day, so I wouldn't be putting my hand up for the captain role...