Tour De France query.

Simon Mason <[email hidden]> wrote:
: Watching Eurosport's excellent coverage I have noticed riders hanging onto
: the team cars while getting drinks or chatting to the managers. Also after a
: crash riders have been drafted by the cars so that they can catch up. When
: does this constitute an abuse?

Drafting is usually ignored if it's in the caravan and after a crash/mechanical.
Drafting if you've been dropped is frowned on.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune http://www.clune.org
"Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Watching Eurosport's excellent coverage I have noticed riders hanging onto
the team cars while getting drinks or chatting to the managers. Also after

a

Quoted message said:

crash riders have been drafted by the cars so that they can catch up. When
does this constitute an abuse?

I read that hanging onto cars was such a problem in the past that
helicopters were used to clamp down on this, how come they can get away

with

Quoted message said:

it today?

Its all banned but only if its spotted by the commisaire's will they be
fined in either cash/points or both. There have been quite a few fines this
year including the team time trial when its obvious you're goign to get
caught but if you're a climber and not a GC contender then its worth risking
the fine. Taking food outside the feed zones is always worth the fine really
compared to risks of bonking- I am pretty certain the Euskatel team got
fined for this in the last 48 hrs but with Mayo snookered, whats to lose!!!!

"Willowbeauty" <[email hidden]> wrote in

Quoted message said:

Its all banned but only if its spotted by the commisaire's will they be
fined in either cash/points or both.

I would have thought that with this being spotted on TV for everyone to
see, it couldn't go unnoticed. In football there is a mechanism that if a
referee doesn't spot a player say spitting at an opponent, then UEFA or FIFA
can retrospectively fine or ban the player by viewing the video footage.

--
Simon M.

Simon Mason said:

Watching Eurosport's excellent coverage I have noticed riders hanging
onto the team cars while getting drinks or chatting to the managers.
Also after a crash riders have been drafted by the cars so that they can
catch up. When does this constitute an abuse?
I read that hanging onto cars was such a problem in the past that
helicopters were used to clamp down on this, how come they can get away
with it today?
--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

Hmm, I can't give definitive answers, I think if you do it well behind
the main field and don't abuse the privilege a blind eye will be
turned. The old trick for a breakaway is to hand a bottle up but the
rider and drive both hold it for a couple of seconds so the rider gets
a short pull.

--

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"Willowbeauty" <[email hidden]> wrote

in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Its all banned but only if its spotted by the commisaire's will they be
fined in either cash/points or both.

I would have thought that with this being spotted on TV for everyone to
see, it couldn't go unnoticed. In football there is a mechanism that if a
referee doesn't spot a player say spitting at an opponent, then UEFA or

FIFA

Quoted message said:

can retrospectively fine or ban the player by viewing the video footage.

Nah, thats all a bit bah humbug for the Tour really, I think the attitude of
live and let live on the tour is good, I mean, woudl you make Lance retrace
his steps through that field last year and come down the hill the right way
or just let him get on with it and be grateful he's still racing. The
commisaires frequently let riders who finish outside the time limit stay in
the race- seem to recall it would have meant disqualifying almost the whole
peloton on one or two occasions!

I think they get the balance about right, going uphill, take them helmets
off- long breakway in a small group and you puncture, get a small tow from
your team car. The riders often share food and drink which technically
breaks the rules, but the Tour is just a bit too big and tough to be too
scrupulous with rules IMO.

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I read that hanging onto cars was such a problem in the past that
helicopters were used to clamp down on this, how come they can get away

with

Quoted message said:

it today?

I think hanging onto helicopters must be far more dangerous ...