Professional Cycling For the Fans - couple of questions re TDF

Hi,

Just wondering, beyond the jersey holders who line up first, is there any rule followed as to where the rest of the peloton start?

Also, is there any way of listening to the 'Tour Radio' that the DS and commentators get?

Cheers

Just wondering, beyond the jersey holders who line up first, is there any rule followed as to where the rest of the peloton start?No.



Also, is there any way of listening to the 'Tour Radio' that the DS and commentators get?

Ride in the car of a D.S.
Watch TV coverage when they talk with the D.S. in the car.
Become a journalist commentator who covers le Tour.

Bollocks.

Surely there's an advantage in starting near the front for the GC contenders rather than start by having to fight to be up there before the fight to stay at the front end goes on?

And does anyone know why the radio's exclusive or its history?

Cheers

Hack into the radio frequency.

Boolocks.

Surely there's an advantage in starting near the front for the GC contenders rather than start by having to fight to be up there before the fight to stay at the front end goes on?

Sure there is, however slight. But what does that have to do with OP's question?

Bollocks.

Surely there's an advantage in starting near the front for the GC contenders rather than start by having to fight to be up there before the fight to stay at the front end goes on?

And does anyone know why the radio's exclusive or its history?

Cheers

While they are riding out of the town, they are fairly under control. It's not until the race director releases them for racing at around the 10k or so mark that it really picks up. As to going back and forth from the front to the back, not a big deal. The riders regularly fall back to the team cars and head back to the front to deliver water and whatnot. Remember, these guys stop to take a "natural" break a time or two.

Here's a guy calling BS that from the question hasn't a clue?

Back to the recumbent, georgegeorge.

nice.

I meant just bollocks re not being able to listen to Tour radio, I'd like to be able to.

Yeah, I know they ferry bidons and whatnot back and forth but a couple of times in the first week attacks went off the front as soon as Prudhomme released them and weren't reeled in before the closing ks. In interviews riders who were looking to be in the breakaway that day said they were caught out. That's why I wondered if they try to start near the front or there's a system as to who starts where. Anyone know more?

I am pretty sure start position is just chaotic. No rhyme nor reason as to where folks line up at the line. They move around in the pack quite a bit as it is. So it really doesn't make any difference.

Hi,

Just wondering, beyond the jersey holders who line up first, is there any rule followed as to where the rest of the peloton start?

Also, is there any way of listening to the 'Tour Radio' that the DS and commentators get?

Cheers

The channels are probably digitally encrypted for privacy. So you would have to find a way to hack the signal.

I think the big advantage of being up front is that it keeps you out of the crashes that happen in the back. This generally works unless Mad Max in a media vehicle takes you out.

I've been a motorcycle referee in the Tour DuPont and many other races in the US. Tour Radio was never encrypted as far as I can remember. That was a while ago though so maybe now it is.

Nothing really too secret goes on. Just which riders/teams are in the break, teams/riders doing the work, time splits, warnings of particularly dangerous sections, crashes, alerts to unusual things that pop up, that type of stuff. When there was something private usually the team car was called up to the Commissaire's car. Or sometimes a motor is sent back with a message. That was how it was done before Tour Radio.

The jersey leaders are announced at the start so that is why they are at the front. From there it's first come first served. But generally teams are relatively close together.

Bill

I also remember Tour DuPont radio being broadcast in English and French.

I'm a HAM guy, so I can probably help here with the radio bit.

The team radio in which teams talk internally to each other are most likely a two way frequency, and they probably guard which ones they use, while I'm sure they aren't encrypted, especially since the ones the riders have are so small.

The race radio is most likely on a European HAM or CB band radio, I'm sure if you are anywhere on the course with a multiband scanner you can pick up the race radio, maybe even a team or two.

The jersey leaders are announced at the start so that is why they are at the front. From there it's first come first served. But generally teams are relatively close together.

Bill

This. The jersey wearers are up front for show, not to give them a competitive advantage.

100 mile plus stage with no center line rule, and it's just not critical if you start 4th or 40th.

Add in that the roll out out of town is usually controlled and it really doesn't matter.

Inactive Ham here. Back in my day and probably today teams did not broadcast on Tour Radio. That was for race news and announcements so It was listen only for the teams. But back then there were no radios on the riders. Now the team radios are probably encrypted!! Lots of strategies go on that channel. Plus its easier to encrypt these days.

... _._


I'm a HAM guy, so I can probably help here with the radio bit.

The team radio in which teams talk internally to each other are most likely a two way frequency, and they probably guard which ones they use, while I'm sure they aren't encrypted, especially since the ones the riders have are so small.

The race radio is most likely on a European HAM or CB band radio, I'm sure if you are anywhere on the course with a multiband scanner you can pick up the race radio, maybe even a team or two.

I've been a motorcycle referee in the Tour DuPont and many other races in the US. Tour Radio was never encrypted as far as I can remember. That was a while ago though so maybe now it is.

Nothing really too secret goes on. Just which riders/teams are in the break, teams/riders doing the work, time splits, warnings of particularly dangerous sections, crashes, alerts to unusual things that pop up, that type of stuff. When there was something private usually the team car was called up to the Commissaire's car. Or sometimes a motor is sent back with a message. That was how it was done before Tour Radio.

The jersey leaders are announced at the start so that is why they are at the front. From there it's first come first served. But generally teams are relatively close together.

Bill

Actually, I'm not sure how business band frequencies are handled in Europe. Which is what I assume they use. In the USA the business bands are divided up and the communication companies put special chips in the radios for different businesses which they generally have sole use of for a 50 mile radius or so. I assume anyone with a business band scanner can pick up these signals but they do have the technology to encrypt the signals if they want. Whether or not it is actually used, I don't know. Not even sure that they sale business band scanners although they can be built by enterprising radio buffs. And some wide band scanners could probably get the signals. I would be surprised if they were using CB frequencies for this but perhaps they do. The radios are probably short range ability radios of only a couple of mile range. In the USA these short range CB frequency radios have little regulation. Which leads me to wonder. How could the teams maintain any privacy. If they are using citizens band radios anyone can tune into anyone.

Does anybody know why 9 riders per team? And how much it costs to sponsor a team for the Tour?

Does anybody know why 9 riders per team? And how much it costs to sponsor a team for the Tour?

You don't sponsor a team for the tour, in general you are there sponsor for a season. This includes the spring classics, the giro, the tour prep races like the criterium Dauphine and the tour de swiss, etc, the TDF, some other stage races (like the USA Pro Cycling Challenge!!!) and then a fall classic or two. It cost a good chunk of change for sure, but I cant give you a definite number. Also some teams are equipment sponsors (for example liquigas-cannondale, leopard trek, garmin cervelo) for both of those teams the sponsor invests more in the way of bikes and other equipment, although from what I have gathered they also throw in some funding as well.

For a complete list of what the world tour team schedule includes is: http://www.uciprotour.com/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MTYwMTY&LangId=1

I'm going to the GP Montreal, can't wait.

Edit: Note that while I included the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, its not a UCI world tour event. Its an American Tour. I'm still pretty sure the pro teams will be there, especially those with strong climbers.

Recently saw an infographic that reported team budgets of the Tour teams. Teams had budgets of anywhere from $7--11 million. This is for the year. Amazingly, Katousha was at $11m while Radio Shack was only at $9m. I guess isince LA left... :D

Katusha is also sponsored by a group of companies from a single nation (Russia), very similar to Astana (Kazakhstan). Radio Shack is also a failing company.

:lol:

Does anybody know why 9 riders per team? And how much it costs to sponsor a team for the Tour?

A lot is just the way things worked out, It is not going to increase as 9 is the most yuo can have where it is easy to tell teh teal by the number. It likely wil niot decrease as teams like as many riders as possible.

# of riders switches every couple years. Sometimes 8, sometimes 9. Riders want as many teammates as possible, but race organizers have logistical concerns to worry about accommodating extra people & extra teams.

# of riders switches every couple years. Sometimes 8, sometimes 9. Riders want as many teammates as possible, but race organizers have logistical concerns to worry about accommodating extra people & extra teams.

Does no tlook that way. Spotchecking:

68,69,76,85,86 all 10 riders
91,96,01,04,08 all 9 riders.

68 was the last of the National teams I thought between then and 69 there was a good chance of a change.

Actually, I'm not sure how business band frequencies are handled in Europe. Which is what I assume they use. In the USA the business bands are divided up and the communication companies put special chips in the radios for different businesses which they generally have sole use of for a 50 mile radius or so. I assume anyone with a business band scanner can pick up these signals but they do have the technology to encrypt the signals if they want. Whether or not it is actually used, I don't know. Not even sure that they sale business band scanners although they can be built by enterprising radio buffs. And some wide band scanners could probably get the signals. I would be surprised if they were using CB frequencies for this but perhaps they do. The radios are probably short range ability radios of only a couple of mile range. In the USA these short range CB frequency radios have little regulation. Which leads me to wonder. How could the teams maintain any privacy. If they are using citizens band radios anyone can tune into anyone.

Tour DuPont used business band, definitely NOT CB. Occasionally we would hear a local business making calls. Tour Radio would explain what we were doing and politely ask them to keep calls to a minimum until we passed. Never really had much trouble with that either. A plane following the route had a repeater in it. He just kept circling and following the race to provide radio contact. Today encryption is much easier so they may encrypt just to keep from bothering other frequency users.

Bill