Tour De France - Top 10 GC or Stage Win?

[Asero831]

Definitely this has always been the dilemma on our sport. Both are accomplishment and signifies that you are a world class talent but which is more valuable.

Let look at these elements:

1. UCI WT Points - finishing 10th gives you 50 points while winning a stage equates only to 20 points. So that means that you need to win three stages to justify that winning GT stages are more valuable that being a GC contender. Advantage Top 10 GC

2. Prize Money - A 10th place GC rider almost gets the same prize amount as a stage winner. Around 8000 euros. So they are almost in the same boat here. Ofcourse if a rider is qualified for the white jersey as finishing 3rd entitles you to a another 10,000 euro.

3. Statisfaction of Sponsors - I would think winning a stage is more for the benefit of the sponsors. Advantage Stage Win.

4. Rider's Perceived Value - Being a stage hunter offers a lot more opportunity to win prestigous races. Most of the stage hunters are sprint classics specialist while being a consistent top 10 does not guarantee a million dollar contract. Advantage Stage Win.

5. CQ Points System - Almost similar to UCI WT Points system, a rider should win two stages to match the points gathered when you placed 10th in the GC.

So what will be the tactic of Costa, Mollema, Rolland, Majka, Porte, Uran, Spilak, Kelderman, etc

 

[Scarponi]

Depends where in the top 10 for me, 4th would be worth more than a stage win IMO but I would prefer to come 17th and win a stage than finish 10th

 

[Miburo]

Stage win on a MTF is worth more than 4-10 imo. Only podium is better.

 

[Anderis]

If I was a professional cyclist, I would rather finish in the top10 than win one stage. I think it's more of a proof your capabilities. You can win a stage being lucky to have a good day and launch an attack at the right time and top players not bothering to chase you. To be in the top10 you need to be consistently good throughout 3 weeks (losing 7 minutes one day doesn't put you totally out of contention, but losing half an hour probably does). Of course there is a big difference between 4th and 10th so it all depends on circumstances. It's not the same to chose between 4th in GC and a lucky win after peloton gifted you a stage or between anonymus 10th in GC and a well deserved stage win beating top contenders in straight fight and perhaps finishing between 11th and 15th in GC as well.

Although if I have previously finished between 6th and 10th in GC few times and never won a stage, I would rather try to go for a stage win if I feel I can't finally break into top5. But you never know what things are going to be like in 3rd week. Unless you are a legend that won many big races during his career, it's not wise to give up on GC as long as you are in contention for top10. It matters a lot to your team, sponsors and future contract prospects. And you are never guaranteed to win a stage even if you sacrifice your GC chances.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Top 5, then stage.

Put it this way: remember Ag2r a few years ago? Do you remember Tadej Valjavec, or do you remember Riblon's mountaintop wins?

 

[Anderis]

Re:

Put it this way: remember Ag2r a few years ago? Do you remember Tadej Valjavec, or do you remember Riblon's mountaintop wins?

I remember both.

I started to watch cycling regularly in 2009 (in 2008 I watched TdF only) and I can say who was in the top10 of GC in TdF each year, but I wouldn't be able to mention all of the stage winners.

 

[staubsauger]

Wins count: Stages or overall.

Everyone remembers Pantani and his victories!* No one remembers Levi Leipheimer and his anonymous Grand Tour Top 10 placements.**

* He did risk his placements in order to take those wins and failed sometimes, of course.
**Except Vuelta 08 and TdS 11.

 

[pablohidalgo7]

It depends on the global perfomance of each rider. For example I prefer Kruisjwijk top 10 at the giro than keisse or Boem stage win.

 

[Arredondo]

Stage win of course. It's all about winning.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

The rating systems (UCI and cqranking) are flawed in this perspective imo. They should be way more top heavy to reflect the true value. A top 10 is worth as much as 2,5 stage wins? No way.

 

[SeriousSam]

The most relevant consideration for riders is probably what result raises their wages the most. Winning a few stages, ie demonstrating a consistent ability to win stages in the Tour, is probably worth a lot, topped only by getting on the podium. Winning a random stage, or even two in a break way by contrast is probably not worth as much as getting top10.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Wins count: Stages or overall.

Everyone remembers Pantani and his victories!* No one remembers Levi Leipheimer and his anonymous Grand Tour Top 10 placements.**

* He did risk his placements in order to take those wins and failed sometimes, of course.
**Except Vuelta 08 and TdS 11.

Everybody remembers Levi

Agree with Libertine, top 5, than stage win

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Depends on the stage. If it's from a breakaway on a rolling stage, top 10 is possibly slightly better. If it's a stage win on the queen stage, it's pretty much as good as top 5

 

[Dazed and Confused]

In hindsight, Leipheimer seems underrated.

I dislike riders defending GC 6-10 positions.

I can accept a neo pro or a rider returning after some issues going for a soft GC, but a 28 yo (example) with almost no wins protecting/defending a 7th place (GC) for 15 stages is simply ridiculous.

I will back a rider who tries to win always.

 

[del1962]

Re:

Stage win on a MTF is worth more than 4-10 imo. Only podium is better.

A MTF stage win is only that prestigous if it is not from a break but against top GC riders (even then a lesser rider might be allowed up the road near the end while the top GC riders watch each other), in fact a MTF stage win from a break is imo less prestigous than a bunch sprint stage win where the top sprinters are involved

 

[Velolover2]

Final podium > Stage win > Top 5.

I'd rank a bunch sprint stage over a 4th place.

 

[yaco]

Think it also depends on the priorities of the team - Some teams have no interest in GC so will hunt for stage wins. Other teams treat GC as Gods. In a perfect world some teams, especially new teams will aim for more. For example OGE will probably win a stage or two at the TDF, but winning a mountaintop stage will give OGE more cachet with sponsors and the cycling community.

 

[Billie]

Re:

Stage win on a MTF is worth more than 4-10 imo. Only podium is better.

Don't agree.

Van den Broeck in 2010/2012 > Vanendert on plateau de beille

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Stage win on a MTF is worth more than 4-10 imo. Only podium is better.

Don't agree.

Van den Broeck in 2010/2012 > Vanendert on plateau de beille

Nah, it doesn't matter who you are or how good you were when you win on a climb like Plateau de Beille.

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

Stage win on a MTF is worth more than 4-10 imo. Only podium is better.

Don't agree.

Van den Broeck in 2010/2012 > Vanendert on plateau de beille

Who was 4th in the tour when armstrong, contador or pantani won on plateau de beille?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

When a rider has retired, his stage win will be a highlight of his palmares. His eighth place will be irrelevant.

During his career however a top 10 GC place at the Tour will add more to his wage packet and leader status within his team. Jurgen Van den Broeck has earned a lot more money, despite never really winning anything much, than any rider who got a stage or two in the same period but never troubled the GC top 10. It's an unpleasant fact, but it is a fact.

 

[ILovecycling]

Win
Podium
Multiple stg win
Polka Dot
Stage win
Top5
White jersey
Battling in epic stage (to loose in a great fashion)
Top10

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Win
Podium
Multiple stg win
Polka Dot
Stage win
Top5
White jersey
Battling in epic stage (to loose in a great fashion)
Top10

What about the Green Jersey then? But I'd personally rank Polka Dots and White Jersey a lot lower. Even winning the Green Jersey can be a bittersweet experience without any stage wins.

Think about it, I think most sprinters in the Giro would rather win the Milano stage than the Red Jersey. Or a mountain stage instead of the Blue Jersey. Winning a stage means a lot. In all of the GTs.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

Think about it, I think most sprinters in the Giro would rather win the Milano stage than the Red Jersey. Or a mountain stage instead of the Blue Jersey. Winning a stage means a lot. In all of the GTs.

True, but Green and Polkadots in the Tour are a much bigger deal than secondary jersey competitions in any other race.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

Win
Podium
Multiple stg win
Polka Dot
Stage win
Top5
White jersey
Battling in epic stage (to loose in a great fashion)
Top10

What about the Green Jersey then? But I'd personally rank Polka Dots and White Jersey a lot lower. Even winning the Green Jersey can be a bittersweet experience without any stage wins.

Think about it, I think most sprinters in the Giro would rather win the Milano stage than the Red Jersey. Or a mountain stage instead of the Blue Jersey. Winning a stage means a lot. In all of the GTs.

I only made that for gc riders as mentioned in OP

About polka dot...I rate it that high, cuz that rider is always active druing whole Tour and he usually provides lot of fun for spectators.