2017 Tour de France

[Patchelicious]

Mechanicals are part of racing

Bikes are integral to the sport

Too much power is afforded to the maillot jaune

 

Then those who race with that philosophy gets slammed and poorly characterized.

 

Porte was a GC contender

No one waited when he was lying next to the road badly hurt

Next to Dan Martin, another GC threat...

 

Let them race with freedom

Fate and luck of either kind is part of racing as rain and wind is.

 

#postrestdaythoughts

 

Aru attacked BECAUSE one of his opponents had bad luck. No matter how you paint it, that doesn't sit right.

[Pah Bear]

They'd still be there waiting for him to recover and get his fitness back... it'd be the longest tour ever

Crazy argument if you ask me.

[Patchelicious]

They've all done it...and will continue to do so.

 

Hell we've seen riders change bike models mid race..

 

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Well exactly, so lets not isolate the teams we don't like. If we have problem with bike changes, lets apply that impartially.

[Vetplant]

You mean like Quintana did?

I am not entirely sure I understand what you mean. So allow me to clarify myself at least.

 

I am not critical of a bike change for tactical reasons, go for it. What I was wondering about is whether someone like Sky would use the Yellow yersey position unwritten rules to go "..o look, I have a meachanical, please wait up while I quickly change my bike..." meanwhile he never had a mechanical, he just made a tactical switch.

 

I am not saying that is what happened, I am saying the unwritten rules allow for that to happen...

[dev null]

If everyone in the peloton agrees to let go of these small irritating traditions, then so be it. That includes attacking the leader on the way to Paris also I hope.

[Gen]

When all the Pros agree thats the new approach, then so be it.

 

Its not really up to us to argue their unwritten rules. Unless of course you are on a WT team, then your opinion on it matters.

Lol.. being on a WT team and having an opinion that matters doesn't necessary get things done/changed in pro cycling [emoji6] [emoji23] . . Now you want them to try and agree on a unwritten rule when they can't even agree on written ones [emoji23] [emoji23]

 

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[Gen]

Well exactly, so lets not isolate the teams we don't like. If we have problem with bike changes, lets apply that impartially.

Wasn't me I said race leader didn't say sky or Froome or anything like that.

 

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[Patchelicious]

I am not entirely sure I understand what you mean. So allow me to clarify myself at least.

 

I am not critical of a bike change for tactical reasons, go for it. What I was wondering about is whether someone like Sky would use the Yellow yersey position unwritten rules to go "..o look, I have a meachanical, please wait up while I quickly change my bike..." meanwhile he never had a mechanical, he just made a tactical switch.

 

I am not saying that is what happened, I am saying the unwritten rules allow for that to happen...

Cool, thanks for clarifying, makes sense now.

 

I think that would be very short sighted of them.

 

Remember, the other teams would very quickly ostracize them if they take advantage of these "rules". Kind of how the peloton is treating Astana. You abuse these rules, you lose friends.

 

And that actually makes a good point. If the rest of the GC guys agreed with Aru's attack during Froome mechanical, then why did non of them help attack. They all sat on his wheel, some even said things to him, they show this respect because thats how they have been taught i the peloton, a peloton that non of us have ever ridden in, they also do it because if they get in yellow, they would appreciate the courtesy in return. 

[Pah Bear]

The sport of cycling is as interesting as it is because it developed over time to be "as it is". That's why I enjoy it, with all it's nuances. Some I enjoy (especially when it benefits those I support) and others I dislike (especially when it favours those I don't), but these pro's all (well mostly), understand the principle of "what goes around comes around", just as I appreciate.

 

What a spectical. 

['Dale]

When all the Pros agree thats the new approach, then so be it.

 

Its not really up to us to argue their unwritten rules. Unless of course you are on a WT team, then your opinion on it matters.

The fans have a stake in this though, Patch'

We watch them and support their sponsors as consumers

Thus, discuss freely as part of the racing dynamics

 

The peloton is split between the gentleman's club and the daring modern racer - far from consensus year after year

[Patchelicious]

Lol.. being on a WT team and having an opinion that matters doesn't necessary get things done/changed in pro cycling [emoji6] [emoji23] . . Now you want them to try and agree on a unwritten rule when they can't even agree on written ones [emoji23] [emoji23]

 

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Gen, this is not about me and what I want. I also never asked them to agree anything.

 

What I said was: When all the pros agree the approach thats its every man for himself, then I will accept it. Right now there is an unwritten rule about attacking the Yellow/Pink during a mechanical. Aru broke this rule, the other GC guys didn't appreciate it, and he will suffer because of it.

 

NOT MY RULE! so don't fight with me about it, and PLEASE don't put words in my mouth.

[Patchelicious]

The sport of cycling is as interesting as it is because it developed over time to be "as it is". That's why I enjoy it, with all it's nuances. Some I enjoy (especially when it benefits those I support) and others I dislike (especially when it favours those I don't), but these pro's all (well mostly), understand the principle of "what goes around comes around", just as I appreciate.

 

What a spectical. 

 

At least you have the honesty to admit that.

[Patchelicious]

The fans have a stake in this though, Patch'

We watch them and support their sponsors as consumers

Thus, discuss freely as part of the racing dynamics

 

The peloton is split between the gentleman's club and the daring modern racer - far from consensus year after year

 

Sure we do. What do you suggest we do about it? Should we write to the riders union and ask them to change it?

[Pah Bear]

Cool, thanks for clarifying, makes sense now.

 

I think that would be very short sighted of them.

 

Remember, the other teams would very quickly ostracize them if they take advantage of these "rules". Kind of how the peloton is treating Astana. You abuse these rules, you lose friends.

 

And that actually makes a good point. If the rest of the GC guys agreed with Aru's attack during Froome mechanical, then why did non of them help attack. They all sat on his wheel, some even said things to him, they show this respect because thats how they have been taught i the peloton, a peloton that non of us have ever ridden in, they also do it because if they get in yellow, they would appreciate the courtesy in return. 

I agree with you. We sometimes bitch and moan at "unwritten rules" maybe because during a particular incident, it favours those we don't favour. Impartiality I suppose cannot be in the house. Or can it? 

[Gen]

Gen, this is not about me and what I want. I also never asked them to agree anything.

 

What I said was: When all the pros agree the approach thats its every man for himself, then I will accept it. Right now there is an unwritten rule about attacking the Yellow/Pink during a mechanical. Aru broke this rule, the other GC guys didn't appreciate it, and he will suffer because of it.

 

NOT MY RULE! so don't fight with me about it, and PLEASE don't put words in my mouth.

No fighting patch. .[emoji111]

 

Just a general statement from my side that's all..

 

IMO I think Astana will only pay for it if it serves one of the other teams interests. Too much at stake, too much to lose these days. ..

 

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[Pah Bear]

At least you have the honesty to admit that.

There was a rider on that too - 

 

"understand the principle of "what goes around comes around", just as I appreciate.