Should the Olympic Road Race be classified as a Team Event?

[cycladianpirate]

Just wanted the views of the cognoscenti on this one.

Perhaps not for the Worlds, but for the Olympics?

To domestique as a job is fair enough, but if your efforts have made all the difference to getting your leader onto the podium at the Games, shouldn't you be entitled to stand by him there and claim your medal?

 

[Carlo Algatrensig]

I certainly think everyone on Team Telekom should have got a gold medal back in Sydney.

 

[norwegian]

I tend to agree with you on this, I think.

 

[spalco]

Never thought about it, but yeah, I like that idea. All teams should have equal numbers then though.

 

[Caruut]

Would be good to get two medals - a winner's medal and a team medal. To me, it is unfair to give the team-mates of the winner no recognition, and also unfair to the winner to give him the same recognition as the rest of his team. He is, after all, the winner.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Would be good to get two medals - a winner's medal and a team medal. To me, it is unfair to give the team-mates of the winner no recognition, and also unfair to the winner to give him the same recognition as the rest of his team. He is, after all, the winner.

Yes I agree with you.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

I certainly think everyone on Team Telekom should have got a gold medal back in Sydney.

**** Telekom. That gold medal is Vinos, and we all know it

 

[ElChingon]

No, Cycling needs to be moved to the exhibition sports section. Next thing everyone will want skateboarding, fuse ball or sandcastles as Olympic sporting events... ugh...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

no no no no no.
encourages team control, and lessons the unpredictability.
I like that the Olympics has small teams, makes control difficult.

 

[Ferminal]

You wouldn't be a domestique if you were good enough to get on the podium yourself.

 

[hfer07]

In principle the OP is right -but the Olimpic team Ds tend to have already in mind who's going to be the designated/protected leaders & who's going to do domestique duties. In the case of the olimpics-even if the gold medal is an individual recognition - its always looked as a team achievement since the riders see it more as a national matter

 

[ElChingon]

In principle the OP is right -but the Olimpic team Ds tend to have already in mind who's going to be the designated/protected leaders & who's going to do domestique duties. In the case of the olimpics-even if the gold medal is an individual recognition - its always looked as a team achievement since the riders see it more as a national matter

Talking about the race tactics (Olympic BS aside), the beauty of the national teams as we see every year at Worlds is that no matter who says the leader is, there can always be a wildcard rider who disobeys and shakes up the whole race and as they say, "that is why they race them" as opposed to just prognosticating. The Italian infighting is legendary and what makes most worlds exciting and unpredictable. All we need is a few more disgruntled riders to take on their national team DS's and make it exciting to watch.

 

[phanatic]

I'd say no. The medal is an honor for the entire nation, let alone the team. Hitch often posts a picture of Sammy's return to Spain that emphasizes this point.

 

[orangerider]

One medal is enough, no need to make it any more complicated. Else, why not also introduce a king of the mountain gold, sprint gold, most aggressive rider gold, etc...

Team idea is intriguing but to make it fair, as someone mentioned, will require even-level numbers for each country. That may not be so bad if they keep it something like 3 per country. However, if you don't honor the rider who won by name, they can't directly put it on their palmares and you may end up getting pro team riders who just don't find it worth the trouble anymore.

Hence, I think it's best to just keep it the way it is.

 

[avanti]

I often wonder whether a rider may not chase if a pro-teamate and friend from another country is in a breakaway.

 

[Catwhoorg]

Its a toughie. If this years race comes down to a sprint and Cav wins, yes it will be his medal, but a large portion of it will have been earned by his UK team mates in the chase.

It would be nice if they did all get to share a medal, but if there was a team medal, then I agree that the teams would have to be equalised, and that would deny the smaller natiosn thier chnace to send even one rider.


In the end, in 20 years people will still recognise the team GB effort to get Cav his worlds jersey (or if he wins the ORR, his medal). Even though only one name goes into the books.

 

[Gubby Allen]

I've always thought the road race (and to an extent the Marathon & Triathlon) should have two gold medals - one for the rider and then a team event - say 3rd, 4th or 5th competitor crossing the line, or perming it in some way. It's not as if these sport/events are littered with medals unlike swimming, gymnastics etc.

It would incentivise competitors dropping out, or cruising around the last lap or two.

I know that's not strictly what was asked, so I voted no, as the rider deserves a single gold medal but a team should get recognition in some capacity but probably this way.

 

[Oldman]

**** Telekom. That gold medal is Vinos, and we all know it

Half of the Gold goes to the team Doctor and "chilled goods" transport expert. You know that, don't you?

 

[Potomac]

None of the riders should ride like it is a team event. Every man is for himself.

 

[spalco]

I often wonder whether a rider may not chase if a pro-teamate and friend from another country is in a breakaway.

From what I understand, that didn't just happen, but was actually normal and maybe even expected in the past in World Championships - riders working for their trade team instead of their national team.