Professional Cycling - A more exciting TdF...

I read in a lot of threads where many people think the Tour is predictable and boring. Wouldn't the elimination of the radio communications make the race more exciting? Let the riders make the decisions about when to attack, how hard to chase, etc. Cut out the DS role during the race. Science and technology have made the race less exciting. Put the race tactics back on the riders, then we can judge who is the strongest, who is the best tactician, who took the risks.....

Just one man's opinion.

Wouldn't the elimination of the radio communications make the race more exciting?
I used to think that as well, but have changed my mind.

The reason for implementing radios was probably for tactical advantage. And that benefit certainly has proven itself. But it also brings a safety aspect to the race, which I think outweighs that.

So actually, more exciting? Probably. Less safe? I think so. I opt for safety.

flat stage breakaways would be much more succesfull without radios and motorcylce time splits. the GC would be up for grabs on every stage instead of just a handfull.

I don't know if radios have made things much safer. In the 20 years I've been following racing I can only think of a handful of minor incidents caused by team cars trying to get to their riders. Radios did not come about in an attempt to make things safer.

Yeah, let's go back to the Old Days(TM) where the riders had to repair their own bikes on the road too! It would be much more exiciting!!!!111one :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Yeah, let's go back to the Old Days(TM) where the riders had to repair their own bikes on the road too! It would be much more exiciting!!!!111one :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

No one's saying that. Having no car-rider radio is not the old days. Well I suppose it is to you 99ers. :rolleyes:

Reminds me of a thread a few days ago.......

The addition of radios and TV feed into the team cars have, to me, made it almost the same as being the the opposition's huddle in a football game. 15 or more years ago, before the communications "breakthrough", the peloton had to figure out who was in the break, what the time gap probably was, and send someone to cover the break.

Doing away with the radios probably have much effect of safety. The big change would be all communication between the director and team would be via domestique relaying a message from the car. I think it would make for more exciting racing, as the leaders would have to be on their toes to possibly cover a long break if they weren't sure who all was in the break.

Just my opinion.