No amount of classic domestiques is going to help guys like Bernal, Gaudu etc in such a way that they magically become able to follow the best guys on such a stage. Just like no amount of mountain domestiques is going to help Kittel win Flèche Wallonne. I'm a big believer of classic stages to break the mold, to spice things up, to battle the bore and to shake up GC, but i think something like a 270k PR or 260k RVV just is a bit too much within a 3 week GT.Tonton said:To the first point: Ahead of the Tour, Bernal's team would be wise to choose a line-up that can help on that stage. After that if he loses ten minutes, so what? And that may mean less mountain help, which now makes a train less possible. I only see benefits here.
To the second point, the point system over the years has evolved in favor of flat stages. That plus ten flat stages, and here we are. Why not change it, make it the same for every stage, and here you have the most consistent rider: Peter Sagan.
As for my comment on the green jersey, it was just an observation, nothing more. I do feel however, that points earned, shouldn't be taken away because you can't finish the race. If a rider can earn enough points in the first 10 days before crashing or before quitting, it only means the competition can't do better in 21 days. But less pure sprint stages would only be a benefit imho.
Days where the finish of one stage, was the starting point of the next stage, are long gone. So i don't see how it would be a geographic necessity. It's up to the race organizer to come up with a good and varied course. If you think races should represent their environment, then we can cancel Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Paris Roubaix... That's what courses do, connect the sections that could be desisive, in an interesting way.Bye Bye Bicycle said:Flat stages are part of the DNA of GTs and - just have a look on the map - a geographic necessity. If they bore you, don’t watch them.
I also wouldn't know why so many stages should be catered towards a very small selection of riders. There are basically 3 or 4 real contenders for 8 or 9 stages. Why is that? And i'll repeat what i said earlier, if a sprinter can't survive a few km uphill, then maybe he should consider a different carreer. Maybe on the track.