tour radio ban: what do you think?

[Tumbleweed]

the race jury maintains that the ban will be enforced tomorrow.

here are some quotes?

contador: "I don't want radios to be removed because without them, a crash or a puncture can cause the strongest rider in the peloton to lose the Tour," the 2007 champion told reporters on Sunday.
bruyneel: "To me it's very similar to banning the GPS in our cars.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to sit and discuss the issue around a table," said Bruyneel, adding that the teams had decided to react against the ban during the Tour to make their action more efficient.
and from motormouth: "I don't agree with it (the radio ban).

"The race evolves, the bikes evolve, everything evolves.
"The cameras have evolved, the mics has evolved and suddenly we are going to go back to a situation where directors will have to ride up into the peloton to give orders to riders - that is not a good thing.
"I remember those days, I have been around long enough to remember them, a few of the riders think it is a cute idea, but I don't.
"And the Tour de France is not the place to experiment, if you want to roll something out, do it in the Pyrenees or some place else, not on the Tour."
Tour de France chief Christian Prudhomme said he would be very surprised if organisers decided to yield to the team's demands.
"I can't imagine that the UCI wouldn't go through with one of it's directives," he said.
"Nothing has changed since the decison was taken on June 19."
prudhomme:"I can't imagine that the UCI wouldn't go through with one of it's directives," he said.
"Nothing has changed since the decison was taken on June 19."

[Sean Badenhorst]

Obviously Astana riders/management aren't keen on this. It's going to weaken their grip on the race a little. I'm surprised they haven't come up with some way to get around the radio ban rule. Pro road teams are experts at this...

 

 

 

 

[Tumbleweed]

ja, bruyneel seems the most vocal on it. at least it'll spice things up in what some reckon will be a boring second week.

[Delgado]

Time for race by laptop to end! Let the break go at your own peril?!

[Capricorn]

Time to use pit boards...

[Tumbleweed]

from AP's tour notebook: EARPIECE BAN CONFIRMED: Tour organizers confirmed their decision to ban all means of electronic communication between riders and their sports directors for Tuesday's 10th stage, a 194.5-kilometer (120.9-mile) ride from Limoges to Issoudun, despite the opposition of a majority of the teams.

 

[Sammajoor]

It is certainly going to spice things up............ and I think might just break Astana's hold on the tour...  BUT then again I could be wrong

[2 X 2]

It's going to make the racing more agressive, more attacks, because riders might think it will be easier to get away.  Organizing chases will take longer, etc

[WorcesterWheelers]

It is certainly going to spice things up............ and I think might just break Astana's hold on the tour...  BUT then again I could be wrong

 

Interesting picture below......  (taken during yesterday's rest day)

1. Astana teaming up with Colombia to help them on the flats

2. They got lost.... maybe cause they went riding without race radio's

3. To Lance for setting the good example and wearing a helmet on a training ride.

 

[Wonder Woman]

I must admit, with the earpieces one gets a feeling that the person in the car is telling his team what to do and when to do it. That just makes the cyclists pawns on a chess board. with that in mind i like the idea of no radios.

 

However, there are places for the radios with regards to punctures and falls etc.

 

I still think radios should be allowed by that cyclists can talk to each other and to the car but the car cannot communicate to the cyclists...

Don't know how you'd enforce that though???

 

Any ideas??

 

[slowtwitch]

Not so sure if it'll solve the orginisers' issue. You'll still know the time gap, just like we know the time gap in our racing when not using radios, it is just a bit more effort to feed the info. So now you'll have team cars coming right up to the riders. not good!!!

 

Safety will be compromised...no more warning of roundabouts, sharp corners, etc.

[jugheaddave]

Seems strange to me.

[Tumbleweed]

It is certainly going to spice things up............ and I think might just break Astana's hold on the tour...  BUT then again I could be wrong

 

Interesting picture below......  (taken during yesterday's rest day)

1. Astana teaming up with Colombia to help them on the flats

2. They got lost.... maybe cause they went riding without race radio's

3. To Lance for setting the good example and wearing a helmet on a training ride.

 

 

maybe lance is giving the benefit of his off-road experience in case of a beloki-style avoidance is necessary? 

[kennyg]

Not so sure if it'll solve the orginisers' issue. You'll still know the time gap' date=' just like we know the time gap in our racing when not using radios, it is just a bit more effort to feed the info. So now you'll have team cars coming right up to the riders. not good!!!

 

Safety will be compromised...no more warning of roundabouts, sharp corners, etc.

[/quote']

 

Is that not why they get a road book for the tour, danger corners. As for crashes, and other safety concerns it brings the pro game down a notch.

 

Look at F1, the rules change every year, the sport is forced to evolve in another direction. This is a similar step, lets watch today, maybe the PRO tour will get a little more exciting.

 

 

[KlapperKnop]

Banning radio is going backwards .. this is PRO CYCLING (the Worlds best) ... this is becoming like Formula 1 .. if 1 team see benefit on technology and dominate the field; the easiest is to restrict them ....

[scotty]

Its all a plot to prevent Astana and in particular LA from doing well.