nonns said:
Well having read the interviews with Sastre and Evans it sounds like their hearts are no longer in it. I mean Ok they might be right but its hardly the fighting spirit.
Lim was right. Whilst the Tour started off quite exciting (perhaps because its the Tour) its rapidly going downhill. Looks like the show will be down to the Contador/Armstrong fight unless bears get involved
. Interestingly with the benefit of hindsight it looks like the concept of neutralising the first week to keep everyone in the running hasn't worked at all. It seems to have crushed quite a few spirits. Perhaps the Tour Organisers should have thought of that before letting an all conquering team in like Astana.
Go back to the good old days when the riders had no radios. The teams were based around countries. Everyone should ride a Tour bike with the same technology. The teams should be allowed a certain mix of rider (sprinters, puncheurs et al). Salalries should be standardised and fixed depending on age experience palmares and suchlike (they could still be big depending on ones record) and teams should be allowed to spend only so much). I know it would be easier said than done but at least it would mean that the playing field might be levelled a weeny bit.
Make it about the people not the bikes.
Are you thinking straight?
Go back to the good old days when the riders had no radios.
A: It's the only one of your points that makes any sense.
The teams were based around countries.
A: This is your idea to equalize and level the field? Are you on medication? It will be a complete tilting of the scale. Do you really think the teams will be on a more equal level when we have teams like Italy, Spain, France (ok, maybe not the French), Belgium, Netherlands, etc. racing against the likes of Poland, Norway, Uzbeckastan, Portugal, etc, etc??
Everyone should ride a Tour bike with the same technology.
A: Same with clothing, shoes, helmets, gloves, etc. I suppose? What a stupid idea. Do you really think the TdF is being won simply by the guy with the best bike?? Bikes don't win Tours, the riders do....Part of the excitement of the Tour is all the new equipment we get to see. It's also an important venue for testing and marketing for the equipment manufacturers. You're basically suggesting that making everyone ride the same logoless, black carbon frames with all black accessories and the same Dura-Ace groupset will improve the excitement factor? Besides, are the teams really using that much "different" technology? They're all human powered bicycles, their differences are a non-factor in the race.
The teams should be allowed a certain mix of rider (sprinters, puncheurs et al).
A: Aren't they allowed that right now? Teams are assembled with certain objectives. As such, they include a mix of riders with certain strengths to accomplish those objectives, be it the GC, the green jersey, polka dot, stages or to just be seen in breakaways.
Salaries should be standardised and fixed depending on age experience palmares and suchlike (they could still be big depending on ones record) and teams should be allowed to spend only so much).
A: Aren't salaries right now based on those very things you mentioned? The rider who wins alot or wins big races or has a valuable role in the team gets to be retained by the team at high salaries?
I know it would be easier said than done but at least it would mean that the playing field might be levelled a weeny bit.
A: Artificially equalizing the teams goes against the very nature of sports. Everyone on a team does their best to achieve a certain goal, which in sports means to win. You also suggested to not invite a team (ie. Astana) because they are perceived as "too strong"? Your logic suggests that all superior riders and teams should be penalized in some way in order for the weaker riders and teams to have equal footing. Why even race then? On that note, at the next World Championships ITT, I propose that the UCI do not invite Cancellara because he is too damn good at the event and crushes the competition....
You must either be a government employee, a union worker or a Commie who hates the notion of achievements through competition.