TDF Rules

[Richard Bates]

The website quotes the following rule:

"All riders may render one another such minor services as
lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or
accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires,
wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among riders
from the same team. [...]"

Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give each
other help?

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[Simon D]

"Richard Bates" <usenet01@artybee.net> wrote in message
news:a2o0e09vld22rpvi18ii9bg4ah4qjiu31i@4ax.com...
> The website quotes the following rule:
>
> "All riders may render one another such minor services as
> lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or
> accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires,
> wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among
> riders from the same team. [...]"
>
> Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give
> each other help?

Nowadays are exceptionally well supported, so inter-team
camaraderie features relatively rarely in the TdF. (Mind
you, these rules sound a bit antiquated - the idea of
anyone faffing about with tubs, as opposed to changing is
wheel, is a bit of a joke!) However, consider the situation
(which regularly occurs in events of lower stature than the
TdF) in which two riders are clear on a long break, with
100km still to go. If one has no supply of food / drink,
and the other can supply, it's almost certainly to his
advantage to do so, since he's less likely to survive if
his partner gets the knock.

[Simon D]

"Richard Bates" <usenet01@artybee.net> wrote in message
news:a2o0e09vld22rpvi18ii9bg4ah4qjiu31i@4ax.com...
> The website quotes the following rule:
>
> "All riders may render one another such minor services as
> lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or
> accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires,
> wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among
> riders from the same team. [...]"
>
> Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give
> each other help?
>
Nowadays teams are exceptionally well supported, so inter-
team camaraderie features relatively rarely in the TdF.
(Mind you, these rules sound a bit antiquated - the idea of
anyone faffing about with tubs, as opposed to changing is
wheel, is a bit of a joke!) However, consider the situation
(which regularly occurs in events of lower stature than the
TdF) in which two riders are clear on a long break, with
100km still to go. If one has no supply of food / drink, and
the other can supply, it's almost certainly to his advantage
to do so, since he's less likely to survive if his partner
gets the knock.

[Brakepiston]

On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 19:22:03 +0100, Richard Bates
<usenet01@artybee.net> wrote:

>The website quotes the following rule:
>
>"All riders may render one another such minor services as
>lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or
>accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires,
>wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among riders
>from the same team. [...]"
>
>Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give each
>other help?

They often exchange water bottles/food. It's not unlikely
that one rider in a breakaway group will take a step back
from the front of the group to go get lots of water bottles
for the other riders. Benefits all, at the end of the day.

As for bikes/wheels, I remember once Cipollini gave Pantani
a set of wheels, 'cause Pantani crashed his. I guess they
did it because they were friends though...

[Martinm]

BrakePiston <brakepiston@REMOVEyahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:<imt2e05h39c126ccif59clui7c4jrfrfru@4ax.com>...
> On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 19:22:03 +0100, Richard Bates
> <usenet01@artybee.net> wrote:
>
> >The website quotes the following rule:
> >
> >"All riders may render one another such minor services as
> >lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or
> >accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires,
> >wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among
> >riders from the same team. [...]"
> >
> >Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give
> >each other help?
>
>
> They often exchange water bottles/food. It's not unlikely
> that one rider in a breakaway group will take a step back
> from the front of the group to go get lots of water
> bottles for the other riders. Benefits all, at the end of
> the day.
>
> As for bikes/wheels, I remember once Cipollini gave
> Pantani a set of wheels, 'cause Pantani crashed his. I
> guess they did it because they were friends though...

While we are at it; I have no dish, no freeview box, no
cable, in fact only a very bad aerial (waiting for the super
whizz bang Sky freedish) so please no spoilers ;-)