Tour de France Tour de France 2021, Stage 3: Lorient - Pontivy, 183.9 km

Page 29 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Would not like to see earlier neutralisation than 3km. Take some of the randomness out of this and might as well just turn the race into into half a dozen mtf's and a couple of itt's. Call it the Dauphine or something.

The only part of that stage that was particularly ropy was that narrow section in the last 5kms. That wasn't sensible on an early sprint stage. The curve where Bahrain went down was inviting problems. ASO deserve brickbats for that.

The rest was just early GT stage jitteriness in my view.
But is that actually the case? what if sprint stages were neturalized at 10k? how would that transform the race as you mentioned above? Are GC time gaps really created in the last 10k of a sprint stage (besides crash/mechanical)?
 
Ok

I give up.

If people insist, that Colbrelli suddenly decided to take Roglic out, for no reason what so ever, rather than actually believing the statement released, and the fairly obvious video evidence - have at it, enjoy your conspiracy theory.

:rolleyes:
While I dont really see Cobrelli being pushed by white helmet guy, i don't blame Cobrelli and i believe his statement that the bunch got moving sideways and their bars got tangled throwing Rog to the ground while Cobrelli luckily escaped. His statement is good enough for me
 
  • Like
Reactions: Broccolidwarf
So maybe taking times at 10k is a valid solution for sprint stages. It would also solve the issue of 'too many riders' by allowing the GC teams to sit back and let the sprint trains have at it.

No 10k rule for hilly or murito stages, just the obvious sprints. Not going to solve everything but it will increase rider safety, have zero negative bearing on the GC battle so why not. Are there really any examples of GC gaps being made in the last 10k of a sprint stage outside of crashes or mechanicals?

It might sound stupid and crazy to 'end the racing' with 10k to go but does it really have a negative impact on the spectator experience? I dont think so.

Might as well put the whole Tour on Swift while we're at it. Why should there be a total separation between a limited definition of GC (hills and ITT) non-GC stages (flat).

Personally, I think a better solution is to get rid of flat stages altogether unless it has significant pave or crosswinds. (The latter, of course, can be added once we have the technology to artificially produce crosswinds).
I know that cities that pay to host cities might be in flat areas. Then build some hills! Or destroy some pavement! They have almost a whole year to do it.
 
Might as well put the whole Tour on Swift while we're at it. Why should there be a total separation between a limited definition of GC (hills and ITT) non-GC stages (flat).

Personally, I think a better solution is to get rid of flat stages altogether unless it has significant pave or crosswinds. (The latter, of course, can be added once we have the technology to artificially produce crosswinds).
I know that cities that pay to host cities might be in flat areas. Then build some hills! Or destroy some pavement! They have almost a whole year to do it.

I fully understood your position, if any GC rider - ever - had pulled off some tactical masterstroke, on a flat stage with no wind, in the last 10K - and taken significant time on GC.

Otherwise it's like requiring sprinters, to be with the GC group until 3K from the top of every climb, if they want to be in contention for green......

......a pointless exercise.

Also you should note, nothing is stopping GC teams from still taking part in the fun - they just no longer HAVE to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Koronin
Ok

I give up.

If people insist, that Colbrelli suddenly decided to take Roglic out, for no reason what so ever, rather than actually believing the statement released, and the fairly obvious video evidence - have at it, enjoy your conspiracy theory.

:rolleyes:

Yeah, I mean what’s Colbrelli’s angle supposed to be? He risks what would be a huge, career altering, incident which could lead to suspension or general vilification, even aside from the risk of crashing himself, to take out a rider he is not in any kind of direct competition with and has no known beef with? Why exactly?

Even if he was 100% at fault - which we don’t know - it would almost certainly be down to reckless inattention at worst. Riders do on very, very rare occasions deliberately crash someone else but it’s always a result of losing the head in a row or in the heat of immediate competition to win. You would have to be completely broken in the noggin to just randomly try to seriously injure one of the race favourites in front of the world. And Colbrelli does not have any reputation that I’m aware of as a psycho goon.
 
Last edited:
Might as well put the whole Tour on Swift while we're at it. Why should there be a total separation between a limited definition of GC (hills and ITT) non-GC stages (flat).

Personally, I think a better solution is to get rid of flat stages altogether unless it has significant pave or crosswinds. (The latter, of course, can be added once we have the technology to artificially produce crosswinds).
I know that cities that pay to host cities might be in flat areas. Then build some hills! Or destroy some pavement! They have almost a whole year to do it.
I dont know if this is serious or not. Eliminate flat stages? Sure that will work. Sorry Paris, you had a nice run but its over lol
 
Yeah, I mean what’s Colbrelli’s angle supposed to be? He risks what would be a huge, career altering, incident which could lead to suspension or general vilification, even aside from the risk of crashing himself, to take out a rider he is not in any kind of direct competition with and has no known beef with? Why exactly?

Even if he was 100% at fault - which we don’t know - it would almost certainly be down to reckless inattention at worst. Riders do on very, very rare occasions deliberately crash someone else but it’s always a result of losing the head in a row or in the heat of immediate competition to win. You would have to be completely broken in the noggin to just randomly try to seriously injure one of the race favourites in from of the world. And Colbrelli does not have any reputation that I’m aware of as a psycho goon.
The bump he did, we can see it, but the gesture he did afterward speaks volumes about him.