Tour de France 2024 SPOILERS

[cisamcgu]

But then the winner would also be KOM 99% of the time ?

I know what you mean, but variety is the spice of life

 

[T4tomo]

Yes,but with flat bits in between, but no sprints.

We would actually see some racing as opposed to the daily borefest of umpteen kilometres of actually doing not a right lot.

Would be great imo.

How can you have no sprints? Do you impose a max speed inside the last 3km? You can sprint uphill you know.

 

[Adam4868]

TT team and solo are some of the best stages I've been to live....its the race of truth innit. l love the way there's a chance it can go horribly wrong ! Not sure I like the tension of final stage TTs but especially in recent years if you can't TT you don't stand much chance of winning a GT.
Would love Remco to take the stage today but he's got some fierce competition with Pog and Almeida Ayuso etc....also Pog will want revenge on Vingo for last year's TT 😁

 

[figbat]

Yes,but with flat bits in between, but no sprints.

We would actually see some racing as opposed to the daily borefest of umpteen kilometres of actually doing not a right lot.

Would be great imo.

So does this include no intermediate sprints?

 

[Alex321]

So does this include no intermediate sprints?

Without wanting to put words I their mouth, I *think* that what Spokeydokey doesn't like about Sprint stages is that basically nothing really happens until the last 10Km or so.

It is usually just the peloton ambling along (for a definition of ambling which is faster than most of us could manage for even a mile or two), usually with a breakaway a few minutes up the road, but never far enough to be uncatchable.

 

[T4tomo]

Without wanting to put words I their mouth, I *think* that what Spokeydokey doesn't like about Sprint stages is that basically nothing really happens until the last 10Km or so.

It is usually just the peloton ambling along (for a definition of ambling which is faster than most of us could manage for even a mile or two), usually with a breakaway a few minutes up the road, but never far enough to be uncatchable.

Which mainly illustrates that the pair of you don't understand the subtleties of stage racing, you can have boring flat stage and boring stages just as you can have exciting flat stages and exciting hilly stages.

the calculations of breakaways and catching them, or not, echelons and wind directions etc

the main thing about a Grand Tour is it should have a variety of different stages. I love a TTT, always exciting and an ITT or two should always be included, a GC winner should be able to ride on his or her own and with team support.

 

[figbat]

Without wanting to put words I their mouth, I *think* that what Spokeydokey doesn't like about Sprint stages is that basically nothing really happens until the last 10Km or so.

It is usually just the peloton ambling along (for a definition of ambling which is faster than most of us could manage for even a mile or two), usually with a breakaway a few minutes up the road, but never far enough to be uncatchable.

Yeah, I get it and have some empathy for that feeling. But surely a pick'n'mix tour is better than a day-to-day repeat? Some days the sprinters are shepherded to the end, on others they carry the lanterne rouge. Some days the climbers are knocking themselves out, others they are also-rans. If it becomes a climbing tour then the bikes and riders will quickly become cookie-cutter replicants.

 

[Alex321]

Which mainly illustrates that the pair of you don't understand the subtleties of stage racing, you can have boring flat stage and boring stages just as you can have exciting flat stages and exciting hilly stages.

No it doesn't.

I didn't suggest for one moment I agree with them, just that I believed that was their thinking.

the main thing about a Grand Tour is it should have a variety of different stages. I love a TTT, always exciting and an ITT or two should always be included, a GC winner should be able to ride on his or her own and with team support.

Absolutely.

I don't personally find the TT particularly enjoyable to watch, but that doesn't means I think they shouldn't be a part of the race.

 

[T4tomo]

look who's in the lead...

 

[Mike_P]

Given only a small proportion of the entire peleton take a TT that seriously wonders if it would be better to have a normal race for those not bothered in the TT.

 

[matticus]

If it was all mountains, would we get to hear about the chateaux en route?!?

 

[T4tomo]

Given only a small proportion of the entire peleton take a TT that seriously wonders if it would be better to have a normal race for those not bothered in the TT.

FSS, maybe the sprinters should be allowed to skip the mountain stages too?
🤡 🍌

 

[Chislenko]

I think it is unfair to say people don't understand how a grand tour works because they don't like sprinter / TT stages.

Some people find them boring, some like them, if we all liked the same things in life, it would be very monotonous.

We would have a pretty dull existence with out difference of opinions, debate etc.

Everybody drives a Ford Fiesta, supports Man. Utd, listens to Queen and votes socialist. Show me the exit now!

 

[Mike_P]

FSS, maybe the sprinters should be allowed to skip the mountain stages too?
🤡 🍌

No because then they would not complete the course, although this year without the carrot of Paris I doubt many, if any, will.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Some people find them boring, some like them, if we all liked the same things in life, it would be very monotonous.

I find them boring and I like them

Boring is good.