Why are they still fielding 181 riders?

[TigerFish]

I was of the impression that as the tour progressed they eliminated riders to provide for a better race. Was I wrong? What if the 181st rider wipes out a contender?

 

[David Suro]

If a rider finishes within the time limit, he is allowed to start the next stage.

Some of the riders who are lowest on GC are contenders for stage wins or are still factors in the points competition for the green jersey.

Tyler Farrar is currently in 176th, but he is an important part of the race. Mark Renshaw (Cav's leadout man) is in 161st. He is also a important for the race. Cav sits in 151st position, Pettachi in 152nd, and Hushovd in 137th.

These riders are not GC conteders, but are important for the race. There are many somewhat anonymous domestiques who fill the last 25% of the overall who are very important to their GC contenders.

The time limits weed out the sick and the weak. The only way to limit the field to the GC contenders and their best helpers is to eliminate the green jersey. That is simply not an option.

 

[online-rider]

You might be thinking of The Devil track race where a rider gets eliminated on every lap. In Road Racing you'll only get eliminated if you finish too late after the winners time on a stage, (say 45 mins).

 

[TigerFish]

You might be thinking of The Devil track race where a rider gets eliminated on every lap. In Road Racing you'll only get eliminated if you finish too late after the winners time on a stage, (say 45 mins).

The 181st rider on stage 10 was over 2 hours behind the winner.

I understand the concern about the team in the overall standings.

 

[khodder]

The 181st rider on stage 10 was over 2 hours behind the winner.

I understand the concern about the team in the overall standings.

Fabian Cancellara and Marcus Burghart were numbers 180 and 181 over the line after stage 10. They were 16:53 behind the winner.

In terms of the overall there is no time limit, only on the stage.

 

[TigerFish]

Fabian Cancellara and Marcus Burghart were numbers 180 and 181 over the line after stage 10. They were 16:53 behind the winner.

In terms of the overall there is no time limit, only on the stage.

Thanx, had the wrong page

 

[mowie133]

better race without the bottom riders it would be a boring race..
looking at the bottom few,two have been in break aways..that isn't boring??
wasn't DUMOULIN is the winning break but didn't have the legs?

almost all of the bottom 30 are lead out men lancaster,hunt.GRABSCH Bert,dean..
if any thing there teams would value them more then a guy who is seating top 30 in gc!!! as they lead out there sprinters!!