Has Grand Tour cycling just become about protected climbers?

[A.Z.KOETSIER]

2015 Tour de France Route

• 9 flat stages - GC riders protected for each kilo so no individual effort racing for them here.
• 3 hilly stages
• 7 mountain stages including 5 summit finishes - Multiple Hours of climbing
• 1 individual time trial - 13.8km lasted less than 15min
• 1 team time trial - again climbers can gain time even if weaker on flats
• 2 rest days

Has Grand Tour cycling just become about the best protected climbers? Im surprised how little time is spent solo or where actual GC riders are racing head to head on the flats.

It's kind of the the same as how GC Sprinting has become a page in the books of history. Gone are the days when GC riders won on the Champ Elysees. Has the TT also died?

Lets be honest GC riders only come to the front on the last and final climbs now days. Froome possibly only lead the entire 2015 Tour for about 5-10km out of +/-3500km?

Is that what you guys want to see from grand tours? is that what the most complete cyclists in the world have to be?

Now I don't expect 160km Merckx breakaways with 8 minute winning margins. I understand that's not possible anymore, but surely they should have more balanced Grand Tours.

Imagine a tour with 7 sprinters days 7 climbing days and 7 TT/Classic days. The Podium would look quite different.

 

[Crackle]

No, as we saw in the last TdF. The opening week put most of the contenders out of contention, all on flat and cobbled stages.

 

[A.Z.KOETSIER]

No, as we saw in the last TdF. The opening week put most of the contenders out of contention, all on flat and cobbled stages.

Exactly my point. Maybe they shouldn't be on the podium if one windy day in Zeeland keeps them off it. As for the cobbles even Froome managed to navigate through them, and his not exactly the most aware bike handler. After all shouldn't bike handling be an important test for a complete rider.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/raci...doubters-on-the-tour-de-france-cobbles-181141

 

[Crackle]

Exactly my point.

I beg your pardon, so it was. Misread it.

 

[gavroche]

For me, they should do away with radios as the rider doesn't have to think, it is done for him and he just does as he is told, so really, a team leader is not necessary with the use radios.

 

[themosquitoking]

I reckon that would gift a few GC's to Sagan.

 

[themosquitoking]

Imagine a tour with 7 sprinters days 7 climbing days and 7 TT/Classic days. The Podium would look quite different.

Meant to quote this before my post.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I cannot think why more ITTs would make any grand tour better.

 

[themosquitoking]

I cannot think why more ITTs would make any grand tour better.

More classic days though.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

More classic days though.

A grand tour is a grand tour, it does not rely on anything other than being what it is whatever the organisers decide to do.

 

[themosquitoking]

A grand tour is a grand tour, it does not rely on anything other than being what it is whatever the organisers decide to do.

I just meant they're a better watch than an ITT.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I just meant they're a better watch than an ITT.

Watching me having a shite is better than watching an ITT.

 

[themosquitoking]

Watching me having a shite is better than watching an ITT.

Is it right that i want to ask for proof?

 

[A.Z.KOETSIER]

Watching me having a shite is better than watching an ITT.

I take it you find watching GC riders hiding behind team mates for 99.9% of a grand tours extremely exhilarating. The pinncale of cycling.

 

[T4tomo]

I take it you find watching GC riders hiding behind team mates for 99.9% of a grand tours extremely exhilarating. The pinncale of cycling.

It is a team sport, what is your point?
ITTs are dull.