Professional Cycling - "taking drinks has ended!"--WTF???

what does this mean? vino was drinking w/ 10 miles to go and it sounds like it is some sort of an infraction?

can somebody please enlighten me?

thanks

There are parts of stages where contact with the team car is considered unfair. They weren't saying you couldn't drink from a bottle, rather you couldn't take a bottle from your team car.

There are parts of stages where contact with the team car is considered unfair. They weren't saying you couldn't drink from a bottle, rather you couldn't take a bottle from your team car.

ahh. that makes sense (mostly, anyway--seems a little sucky to risk dehydration/bonking b/c of potential for gaining a few seconds by hitching a ride)

thanks!

Sometimes the teams have guys on the Mtn's with bottles to hand out.....but yesterday there were a lot of bottles being taken from spectators. Which is legal but not recomended...

:)

not all of the spectators are real spectators though.. I saw some guys with Disco t shirts, handing out drinks to Disco riders last year, helpers hidden in the crowd

That would be the only way that I'd take a drink from the crowd, from a team man. You'd have to be crazy to take a drink from a fan.

Most of the time they just pour the water over them if it is taken from the crowd....

That would be the only way that I'd take a drink from the crowd, from a team man. You'd have to be crazy to take a drink from a fan.

yeah, remember the marathon on Seinfeld?

ahh. that makes sense (mostly, anyway--seems a little sucky to risk dehydration/bonking b/c of potential for gaining a few seconds by hitching a ride)

thanks!

The rule is not about hitching a ride. It is about safety. Every team would want to get water to their riders. That means wanting their team car as close as possible. But riders are dropping off the back of each group all the time. There is no room to pass. Also fairness. Not every car can be the closest and cars can not get to some groups. Solution? Take on water before the steep narrow parts start and enforce this by rule.

Most of the time they just pour the water over them if it is taken from the crowd.... That is what I see most of the riders do with the water anyway - pour it over their heads and face, then perhaps on their arms and legs.

Remember how much water Landis was dumping on his head during his big comeback stage last year. I thought he was taking a shower.

Mavic neutral support will give ToF A-OK water to any racer.

TCS

Remember how much water Landis was dumping on his head during his big comeback stage last year. I thought he was taking a shower.

Or, as I like to call it: "washing away the evidence". ;)

I've seen riders take unopened cans of Coca Cola from spectators. Le Mond once claimed that doing so saved his ass on a climb where he was struggling.

yeah, remember the marathon on Seinfeld?

Haha, was it hot coffee? :D

Or, as I like to call it: "washing away the evidence". ;)

:lol: