Professional Cycling For the Fans - Hypothetical "Dead Heat" going into Champs Élysées

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dahoss2002
07-25-10, 12:58 AM
If Alberto had waited on Andy, they would be tied right now. Would they have to duke it out in a sprint on Champs Élysées? I know its all an "IF" but just wondering what 2 GC riders would do if they were tied going into the last stage. Thoughts?

prettyshady
07-25-10, 01:03 AM
andys stage wins would make him champian, I think.
dahoss2002
07-25-10, 01:07 AM
andys stage wins would make him champian, I think.

So they do have tie-breaker rules?

prettyshady
07-25-10, 01:13 AM
So they do have tie-breaker rules?
The do in the points classifcations, so probally in the Yellow jersey too
dahoss2002
07-25-10, 01:23 AM
The do in the points classifcations, so probally in the Yellow jersey too
Well thanks for the info. I guess they would have to have something in place even though highly unlikely to ever use it. This is only my 4th Tour to watch, (I'm hooked now!), but watching these 2 guys slug it out, they might have to go to a tie-breaker in the next couple years!!!
davids0507
07-25-10, 01:23 AM
I think there was a dead heat at one point last year and it wasn't clear if Cancellara would keep the Jersey, so they went to the fraction of the second. They reviewed all of the finish line photos from the previous stages to make sure they were correct.

But this is just from memory, if someone isn't as lazy as me they can probably find the news article.
rogwilco
07-25-10, 01:53 AM
I think if it's very close, less than 10 seconds or so, there's a good chance the unwritten neutralisation rule would be invalidated and they would fight it out on the last stage.
Bacciagalupe
07-25-10, 06:17 AM
The chances that the top 2 GC riders would have the exact same time, after ~20 stages, is almost nil.

The chances that either GC contender could actually win a sprint finish by a big enough margin to change the GC is also zero. Even if they wanted to go at it, it would be pointless.

The only way the GC riders can duke it out in Paris is if the organizers make the last stage a time trial, like they did in 1989. But since a flat stage does not result in any GC changes in the modern era, functionally there's no difference between doing the ITT on the last day or on the 2nd-to-last stage. (I.e. this year got as down to the wire as it ever gets.)

The final stage is for the most part a parade, just enjoy it for what it is.