Rate TdeF '26: what did you like, what would you fix?

[VinSumRox]

Enjoyed it overall, some excellent stages and a shame JV crashed out. Good seeing Evenopoel do well too.
Improvements:
Start earlier in the day to avoid the heat.
Control the hill top crowds.

 

[Binky]

I gave it a 6 - glad I watched, but not great.

Most of those points came from:

I cannot remember any other stages with special drama/pathos/redemption. Most GTs have at least 2 stages like that (the giro had several!).
Someone wins a stage a year after their team-mate dies. Or a crazy break only JUST makes it. Or bonkers counter-attacking from a small group for the last 10k. Or a really emotional surprise winner. Stuff like that.
(apart from Stage 21!)

Not tooo bothered about the Alpine crowd trouble; it wasn't dramatically worse than other years (with no serious affect on the race), plus we were treated to FANTASTIC feel-good coverage of the partying. So it balanced out!

Even Pogacar was having to wave fans out of the way. A flag waved too closely in his face could have resulted in him being knocked off bike etc which could have been end of Tour for him, no 5th win etc.
Question is then do the organisers wait until something really bad happens to one of the top riders before the situation is addressed or do something to prevent it.

I prefer the latter.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Agree, is Einer Rubio not a big enough name injured to warrant a change?

 

[matticus]

Agree, is Einer Rubio not a big enough name injured to warrant a change?

Nobody wanted Rubio to be injured - but riders have gone through rear windscreens on non-mountain stages too.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Nobody wanted Rubio to be injured - but riders have gone through rear windscreens on non-mountain stages too.

Yes, but his accident was as a direct result of typical alpine crowd behaviour.

 

[matticus]

Yes, but his accident was as a direct result of typical alpine crowd behaviour.

Yes, I know. But I'm saying it literally could have happened with NO crowd - and it HAS happened!

Reacting to one random incident isn't a good H&S strategy.

 

[wakemalcolm]

Yes, I know. But I'm saying it literally could have happened with NO crowd - and it HAS happened!

Reacting to one random incident isn't a good H&S strategy.

Mmmn, happy to disagree agreeably here @matticus IMO if the crowd hadn't been there, there'd have been no cause for the car to stop and people have been calling ASO out for years about their H&S strategy when it comes to crowds on MTFs.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Proper barriers like they typically use for the last ~4Km of some stages would be impractical to place along whole stages.

But why couldn't they line the stage route (or at least points of concern) with rope at say waist height and knee height, supported by (sand/water?) weighted base pillars, cut into sections of 50-100 metres?

Could be produced in France.

It wouldn't solve the problem of dogs wandering in front of the peleton, but any spectators cross that rope line at their peril.

 

[matticus]

Mmmn, happy to disagree agreeably here

Well of course!!! x

@matticus IMO if the crowd hadn't been there, there'd have been no cause for the car to stop

It wasn't a crowd that caused it - it was just one guy. Either leaning out to get a good picture, or retrieving his dropped phone.

I'm not saying the crowds DON'T create a risk in modern times - I just don't see this year as being different, even having seen the Rubio incident.

I think I share the view of many; if they can find a solution that doesn't ruin the spectacle, I'm right behind it. I'm not anti-safety!

(a bit like the fast descents - noone wants riders injured/killed, but they are a big part of what makes Grand Tours special.)