Professional Cycling For the Fans - Race Numbers for next year.

Since Lance has retired and he would be the
rider given race number 1 in the 2006 tour day france
how willl the organizers handle this?
Will Basso be given number 1 since he was second and
LA retired?
What about the teams numbers? will 2-10 also be eliminated
if there is no 1?

Wife just asked me this, and for the life of me I have no idea!

Marty

My guess would be Basso and CSC as suggested.

They'll just have to retire the number along with Lance...right? Forever from now on will there only be the number two. Two and no more, if dost thou cout to 3...sorry Monty Python moment.

If they are going to give someone else number one, I am going to guess it will be random. I don't think that Basso or Ullrich wore numbers reflecting thier finish from the previous year. Again, I am guessing; but it seems only the defending champ was awarded a specific number based on the previous year's performance.

Here's some material which purports to be authoritative:

Riding by numbers
Tour riders are identified by race numbers. The defending race champion wears No. 1, and his teammates follow in order through No. 9. Every rider considered as his team's overall title contender wears the lowest number on his team. He's listed first on all official rider lists; from there, there's an alphabetical order to the numbers.


Every rider must have an official double-sided number plate on each side of his bike frame and in a designated position. Riders must also wear two numbers, one over each hip. During individual time trial stages, cyclists' two small hip numbers are replaced by a larger single number affixed on their lower back. Race organizers provide number plates and race numbers, and they must be worn without alterations.

Came from this web site:

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-3082.html

I think Iker Flores should get the number 1

Here's some material which purports to be authoritative:

Riding by numbers
Tour riders are identified by race numbers. The defending race champion wears No. 1, and his teammates follow in order through No. 9. Every rider considered as his team's overall title contender wears the lowest number on his team. He's listed first on all official rider lists; from there, there's an alphabetical order to the numbers.


Every rider must have an official double-sided number plate on each side of his bike frame and in a designated position. Riders must also wear two numbers, one over each hip. During individual time trial stages, cyclists' two small hip numbers are replaced by a larger single number affixed on their lower back. Race organizers provide number plates and race numbers, and they must be worn without alterations.

Came from this web site:

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-3082.html

That doesn't explain who gets the number one designation if Lance is out of it. It only explains how teams get their numbers in general.

Hmmmmm... now, I'm curious too.

Koffee

Since the number 1 is reserved for a returning champion, my guess is they just won't use it next year, and whoever wins the tour in '06 will get to wear it in '07.

Certainly this has happened before. There is probably a rule about it but I don't know where to find it.

OK...for what it's worth...Julich finished 3rd in 1998 and wore #1 in 1999 since Pantani and Ullrich did not ride that year.

This suggests it will be Basso.

Lemond had to sit out 87 what happened then?

Lemond had to sit out 87 what happened then?

Unfortunately, the Tour's site lists the riders in alphabetical order each year until 1996...but I'm fairly certain that they didn't assign numbers that way.

OK...for what it's worth...Julich finish 3rd in 1998 and wore #1 in 1999 since Pantani and Ullrich did not ride that year.

This suggests it will be Basso.

I don't claim to know the answer. But do know what has been done in the past. 1999 was the first year since 1956 where there was No rider returning who had ever won the TDF. I'm pretty sure that some of the times before the number 1 went to the most recent rider who had won the tour. Also some years (a while ago) the number 1 went to the team of the winner last year. That one gets really confusing as some years the team name also changed (La Vie Clare became Toshiba if I recall correctly).

So we have 3 possibilities, Discovery, Basso or Ulrich.

Of course trying to determine the current rules from the past has a problem. They can and have changed the rules.

Didn't Jean-François Bernard wear #1 in 87. No Lemond, No Hinault and I don't believe Zimmerman was there, so Andy Hampsten would have been next in line by what you guys are saying, but I'm sure it was Bernard.

So that would mean the 2006 Discovery team leader will wear #1

That wouldn't be right... the Discovery team leader will wear #1? And the person who finished higher (Basso or Ullrich) is screwed? I'd think if #1 wasn't around, they just give it to #2, which makes the most sense.

Koffee

Jan is a returning champ, just not last year's champ. Perhaps...?

Ullrich or Basso... I could see the logic of either, but not of having a Discovery team member having the #1, when that guy hadn't earned it, and others who placed higher than him have higher numbers.

Koffee

Didn't Jean-François Bernard wear #1 in 87. No Lemond, No Hinault and I don't believe Zimmerman was there, so Andy Hampsten would have been next in line by what you guys are saying, but I'm sure it was Bernard.

So that would mean the 2006 Discovery team leader will wear #1

Zimmerman started in 1987 but DNF'd.

Ullrich or Basso... I could see the logic of either, but not of having a Discovery team member having the #1, when that guy hadn't earned it, and others who placed higher than him have higher numbers.

Koffee

Juilich wore #1 in '99 after finishing 3rd in '98 so it will probably be Basso who'll wear it in '06 :)

Ok Here are some years with no defending champ and who got number 1. It is clear that they will give someone number 1. Also my guess on criteria for the year. Remember they can change their minds on the rules and likely have, perhaps several times.

1973 Raymond Poulidor. Highest placed returning from previous year. Of interest is the fact that at least Aimar (and possibly 2 others, I stopped when I found one, was a returning rider who had won the tour).
1974 Eddy Merckx. Most recent winner. But since he did not ride the Tour in 73 there were scores who placed higher the previous year.
1983 - Joop Zoetemolk - Both most recent winner and highest placed previous year.
1985 - Philippe Chevallier. Leader of team that won previous year.
1987 - Jean-Francois Bernard. Leader of team that won previous year.
1988 -Urs Zimmerman. Leader of team that won previous year.
(note that in for all of the 80's there was always at least one rider in every Tour that was a previous winner).
1999 - Julich. Highest placed previous year. Note that there were no returning winners, but both Mercatone Uno and Telekom, the teams of the two previous winners were there.

Seems likely that it will be Basso. But the choice in 1999 deos not eliminate Ulrich if it is set by rules. And Discovery could still have a shout at it. There was bad blood regarding Pantani and the tour directors have never been shy about doing what they want to do.

/\ /\ /\ Nice info. I remember Bernard wearing #1 in '87 which was strange since he finished 12th the year before and Zimmerman who finished 3rd also started in '87, but Bernard was on the same team as Hinault & Lemond and he's french ;) I think the bottom line is that the Tour organises hold the trump card, but FWIW, I think they will likely pick Basso.

what were the respective TEAM placings of disco, t-mobile and csc this year? maybe that will factor in.

what were the respective TEAM placings of disco, t-mobile and csc this year? maybe that will factor in.

T-Mobile
Discovery
CSC

I think Iker Flores should get the number 1
I agree, or David Etxebarria.

Didn't Jean-François Bernard wear #1 in 87.
Just a bit of trivia - J-F does the color commentary on French Eurosport cycling now. I am watching him do the Benelux Tour this week.