Bianco said:Is it just me? I'd like to see the Tour de France be an individual sport.
Disband the teams.. everyman for himself..
When exactly did team play come into the picture?
mocka58 said:How about national teams? That would be an interesting concept. I doubt it would be entirely successful though. Trade team allegiances would probably still influence the race.
PiledHigher said:Read some history, individual, national teams, all been tried before they got to the current format.
They made it a team sport because it naturally work's that way given the benefits of cooperation between individuals.
mocka58 said:Thankyou, but I didn't actually need that pointed out to me. I know it's been tried before but it doesn't take away from the fact that it would make it a more interesting race for some of us although it would not be popular amongst the trade teams in the very commercial world we live in.
PiledHigher said:How would it be more interesting, maybe 10 guys would bother. That or there would be all kinds of cheating going on.
Yeah but he was a freak of nature.Frihed89 said:Correct me if i am wrong, but were there not Tours when Merckxx led from start to finish? I don't think he needed a team.
I have come to the opinion that teams should be de-emphasised. In the Veulta and the giro you tend to see more long ranged attacks by leaders than in the tour because teams are not as strong, though still much less than in the past- say pre 90s tours. As opposed to banning teams- how about reducing their size? Say 6 or 7. Maybe next year the Veulta could try this as they seem to be the more innovative tour.limerickman said:The TDF has had national teams, trade teams and people racing as individuals
at various times throughout it's history.
The question is - teamless TDF.
Excepting the fact that legislation would need to be passed by the UCI, I think that a return to individual racing would negate the "strong team"
premise from Renault 1983 through to Banesto 1990's through to USPS in
2000's.
As an event, I think the TDF has suffered because the "team" aspect is now almost as important as the leader for whom they are all working.
I would like to see riders race as individuals.
Not taking anything away from the TDF winners but it is impossible to really ascertain the degree of help a rider gets (or doesn't get) from his team.
There are arguments for and against but in general, I prefer to see racing stripped down to it's barest.
I would also like to see instant communication between manager and rider (earpieces) being banned too.
It will never happen-Teamless- because of sponser issues. However reducing team size would change the complexion of the race significantly. Reducing to seven would even make it safer. A reduction in team size would weaken teams abilities to chase and make individuals attack more further out.Roadrash Dunc said:How utterly boring.
Everyday would be like the Olympic road race but worse , because you wouldnt event have 2 guys of the same country working together.
I dont think you folk who want this have thought it through.The tactics and nuances of team bike riding make 3 week tours exciting.
Watching a prologned Triathalon would see interest in the sport plummet.
Thankfully , due to sponsorship , it will never happen.That and the fact the UCI and the TdF organisers arent as daft as some of you people.
I agree that a teamless tour won't happen, even if I beg.... but boring? no way.Roadrash Dunc said:How utterly boring.
Everyday would be like the Olympic road race but worse , because you wouldnt event have 2 guys of the same country working together.
I dont think you folk who want this have thought it through.The tactics and nuances of team bike riding make 3 week tours exciting.
Watching a prologned Triathalon would see interest in the sport plummet.
Thankfully , due to sponsorship , it will never happen.That and the fact the UCI and the TdF organisers arent as daft as some of you people.
Roadrash Dunc said:I concede a reduction to 7 men from 9 may actually make things more 'exciting' although it good be argued it wont make any great difference.But removing teams per se is completely stupid.
However , you are messing with peoples careers and livlyhoods then.I wouldnt want to be the one who told the 2 who miss out on a major tour - teams already have to tell a dozen people they are missing out.All this will do is cut another 2 or 3 people per team , making pro bike racing even harder to get involved in.
Here in Britain we struggle to get quality riders onto Div 1 European teams , we dont want any more hurdles.Bradley Wiggins , Gold silver and bronze medalist at the Olympics couldnt even get into the Credit Agricole team for a major tour this year.
In fact , i'd rather see more riders given a chance.
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