This wont be popular...

[PaulSecteur]

First, I have to state that Im not a racing pundit or even a regular spectator of races. I may have missed some of the facts. (also, this is a few days late)

But I cant help but think that Chris Froome got off very lightly for his late feed.

I know he got fined, docked some time and all that, but its still cheating - or at best "Bending the rules"

I guess anyone of the top guys would have done the same - Im not specifically having a pop at the champ - the punishment is so lax that it was a no brainer in his situation to do it. But with the recent history of cheating in cycling even a little indiscretion would be best avoided, no matter how small.

Im sure more would have been made of it should his lead be measured in seconds rather than minutes... But it just not British!

Or to put the shimano on the other foot... If Chris had been leading by seconds and a late feed allowed a competitor to take the lead despite the time docked would that have slipped so quietly under the radar?

I guess I`m just not a fan of cheating, or bending the rules. Im still bitter about Maradonas handball, and I don't like football!



I think I will need something more substantial than my bike helmet after this post.
"Oi, Grandad... Do you still have your air raid warden helmet I can use please?"

(Please remember Im not having a pop at Chris, more the rules that make bending the rules a viable alternative.)

 

[Crackle]

well covered in the tour thread if you want to look.

 

[thom]

(Please remember Im not having a pop at Chris, more the rules that make bending the rules a viable alternative.)

I ask you, what is the rule for ? This isn't a question of what the infraction is, rather why is the rule there in the first place ?

I think a good place to start when talking about whether the punishment is appropriate is to understand why the rule is there, not to say the punishment is inappropriate and not know what was wrong in the first place.

 

[PaulSecteur]

I ask you, what is the rule for ?

I don't know. Possibly safety so people aren't riding one handed as the hussle and bussle of the end of the stage approaches, possible to make sure everyone has enough energy to survive to the end, possible to stop team cars trying to follow and getting in the way of the final push.

But what I do know is that all the riders will know the rules, and when your a pro I don't think breaking them should be an option.

 

[rich p]

FFS

 

[Speicher]

FFS

@rich p

We have not met, but you can guess that I usually avoid strong language. On this occasion though, I have to agree with you.

 

[martint235]

To me I'm surprised by the cynicism of it. Take a parallel from rugby, if you accidentally knock on you#'re looking at a scrum to the other side. Knock on deliberately to stop the other side scoring a try and you're on a yellow card, possibly red depending on the ref.

Richie Porte made no pretence that he didn't know that what he was doing was against the rules. It was done purely and simply to stop Froome losing even more time. Now I quite like the fact that Froome won so I'm not that fussed but does it set a precedent: If we don't get the leader some food, we'll lose maybe a minute possibly more, if we break the rules we'll get a 20 second penalty.......

 

[laurence]

First, I have to state that Im not a racing pundit or even a regular spectator of races. I may have missed some of the facts. (also, this is a few days late)

well, perhaps you should read up on the rules and have some idea of what you are on about. maybe i should go on f**tball forums and ask why the player isn't thrown out the game whenever a free kick is given.

go read the TDF thread and find out more

 

[zizou]

First, I have to state that Im not a racing pundit or even a regular spectator of races. I may have missed some of the facts. (also, this is a few days late)

But I cant help but think that Chris Froome got off very lightly for his late feed.

I know he got fined, docked some time and all that, but its still cheating - or at best "Bending the rules"

I guess anyone of the top guys would have done the same - Im not specifically having a pop at the champ - the punishment is so lax that it was a no brainer in his situation to do it. But with the recent history of cheating in cycling even a little indiscretion would be best avoided, no matter how small.

I think this is partly due to you not watching much cycle racing - i dont think anyone who is a regular spectator of races thinks he got off lightly - He broke a rule, he got caught and he got punished according to the rule book (indeed the time penalty he got in addition to the fine was harsher than other riders got for similar infringements). Its not cheating any more than the magic spanner or drafting a car for a few seconds after a puncture to get back on the peloton - after every day in the tour there is a list of riders and the fines they get for these minor infringements.

To take the football analogy further it isn't the equivalent of a handball goal it is more like the equivalent of trying to steal half a yard when placing the ball for a free kick or in the defence edging forward in the wall to make the angles harder. Its against the rules, everyone does it, its not a big deal.

 

[thom]

I don't know.
...
But what I do know is that all the riders will know the rules, and when your a pro I don't think breaking them should be an option.

Well, the rule says that feeding as Froome/Porte did clearly entails a maximum time penalty of 20 secs.

You're saying the rule should be harsher but that you aren't sure what the rule is for...

Um, can you understand people might not be convinced of your wisdom ?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Professional foul, probably not even worth a yellow card.

 

[ayceejay]

I agree that it was a minor infraction that even the sternest Calvinist would view with leniency and to call it 'cheating' is exaggerating. Hypoglycemia is nasty but easily fixed with glucose, it cannot be ignored and could lead to disorientation even unconsciousness neither of which are ideal conditions for a racing cyclist rapidly riding up a mountain. Feeding the current leader of the TdeF a gel to prevent this is hardly a moral issue and the right decision was made both by the riders and by the officials. I agree with zizou "its not a big deal".

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Why has no-one answered the OP's other point, why the rule? I've tried to Google to no avail.

Alan...

 

[rich p]

Why has no-one answered the OP's other point, why the rule? I've tried to Google to no avail.

Alan...

They have ad nauseam in the TdF thread.

 

[lukesdad]

well covered in the tour thread if you want to look.

You really think so ?