Tour de France 2015 - may contain nuts and SPOILERS

[coffeejo]

Why not just race the men and woman at the same time (therefore saving time, money and scotching the question of people coming out to support them?), with the two different categories?

It would be interesting to see how many of the guys they could outpace.

Nah, way too chaotic.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Nah, way too chaotic.

There is an existing system and structure, so surely it could just be added too (within reason I mean)??

 

[sleaver]

Finally, a proper race into Paris

This thread is getting like the Eurosport presenters with things being repeated

 

[coffeejo]

There is an existing system and structure, so surely it could just be added too (within reason I mean)??

198 cyclists started this year's TDF. Can't find the numbers for La Course. Different races happening at different speeds in different parts of the race with everyone getting in everyone else's way. No thanks!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

This thread is getting like the Eurosport presenters with things being repeated

At least none of us would probably ever wear 'those' trousers.

Seriously, if he had had a red shirt and braces then he could have been renamed 'Rupert'.

 

[Saluki]

Quintana's tiny!

5'6", so an inch shorter than me. Not quite tiny. I always thought that Richie Porte was tiny but he's an inch taller than me.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

198 cyclists started this year's TDF. Can't find the numbers for La Course. Different races happening at different speeds in different parts of the race with everyone getting in everyone else's way. No thanks!

Oh I don't know, with a bit of sensible planning it might work.

Anyway, it is all theoretical, innit?

 

[coffeejo]

5'6", so an inch shorter than me. Not quite tiny. I always thought that Richie Porte was tiny but he's an inch taller than me.

And this is why I'm not a professional cyclist. They'd have to provide me with a box to stand on so I didn't get mistaken for someone's child.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Also, the road races at the Paralympics had both men and woman in the same race. I agree that the road around Brand's Hatch aren't quite the same, but still.....

 

[screenman]

5'6", so an inch shorter than me. Not quite tiny. I always thought that Richie Porte was tiny but he's an inch taller than me.

Does that make you 7ft 13 inches, never have been very good at these quizzes.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Does that make you 7ft 13 inches, never have been very good at these quizzes.

She's 10 feet tall with thighs like tree trunks!

 

[winjim]

Also, the road races at the Paralympics had both men and woman in the same race. I agree that the road around Brand's Hatch aren't quite the same, but still.....

Assuming that men are generally faster than women, it could be interesting to see the teamwork, with maybe some men's teams colluding to give some women's teams an advantage, but to their own detriment. It would all get a bit complex and confusing.

 

[themosquitoking]

Does she also breathe fire?

 

[Andrew_P]

I've decided that I'd like to see the following changes for 2016:

- Get rid of the podium "girls". I'm sure they could find enough people from the sponsors or VIPs or even bloody children to carry the flowers etc if required.
- Introduce more women's cycling on the rest days. A day of moderate climbs and technical descents and some sprints. A challenge for QOM in the Alps. Finally, a proper race into Paris, concluding with the traditional sprint finish on the Champs-Elysée.
- I can't remember what the third one was, but I'll let them get on with those two for now.

Not sure about ridding the podium girls it is tradition, init
I think a day ahead or a day behind the men's would do nicely, wouldn't really want it watering down too much myself
For me contrary to tradition I would like the last day to be much more GC competitive, always a bit let down pity it didn't finish up another mountain today.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I can't talk for the competitors, the teams or the organisers, but I am yet to read anyone's opinion that it wouldn't be contested if mere seconds separated the top two or three on the final day. Quintana could only make up a minute yesterday in his best terrain, the mountains. There's no way he would be able to make up the remaining 70ish seconds on the flat with a sprint finish.

I wasn't talking specifically about this year, just generally.

Also, to me the time shouldn't be neutralised, if you are in the lead and crash or similar, tough titties!!