gruven

I don't understand the feed zones. If the riders can go back to the cars at any time to get supplies, why is there a special feed zone where they have to try to grab the handle of a food bag as they ride by? Couldn't they just get their sandwiches and all from the car?

Smoothie104

UCI rule 2.3.027 No supplies may be provided on hill climbs or descents or during the first 50 and final 20 km. I did see hand ups today inside the last 20K, but with 100 degree heat over the roads, perhaps LeBlanc said OK.

You can only carry so much in the team car anyways, If the Riders are drinking an average of 15 or so bottles a stage, thats 135 bottles, plus food.

It also cuts down on the number of times the domestiques have to go back to the car, who wants to fetch enough food for 9 guys over 7 hours. Especially if your team car is 20 cars back.

ed073

^^^^

what he said......

RegularGuy

By common agreement, there are usually no attacks in feed zones.

Big R

So what exactly happens in a "feed zone"? Do all the riders (breakaway and peloton) just kick back a bit...rest, get some food etc?

Is the feed zone 1K? 5K?

Dinstee

pretty much yes. THey get their bags, rifle thru them, stow it away, eat, drink and then get back to business.

hi565

take what they want and throw away the rest too.

hi565

Pissing is another thing that I have read about but just cant understand HOW DO THEY DO IT?

jlin453

Especially if it's a couple people in the Peloton who needs to take a leak. Does EVERYONE stop and wait?

Laggard

They tilt their body to the right (or left), expose the necessary equipment and let loose. I saw Lance do it last week.

You can see it a couple times each stage.

Some times, especially early in the stage, there are group toities. Later if it's just one or two people they'll either go while moving or stop and then chase to get back on.

hi565

ok but what about lance when he gets into a break away. like if its basso, LA, ullrich, and vino. And everything on the line, does he hold it in? that sucks!

Ganesha

What are in the feed bags? And who decides?

puddin' legs

cyclingnews.com, velonews.com, cycling magazine, etc... have a number of articles about feeding and nutrition on the tour if you use the search function.

Crack'n'fail

They don't hold it in. They let it go.

Crack'n'fail

Actually, I made a print of this picture and hung it in my exercise room. My wife looks at it and says, "look, Floyd pee'd his pants!"

Floyd Pees

DocRay

I wondered this a long time ago, now I have a great story. In 2003, the World Championships were in Hamilton, and before the men's race I was driving to work and the entire spanish national team passed my car in training. I was following them down a large hill when one rider satup, pulled down on his shorts, whipped it out and peed at ~40km/hr. Impressive, but unfortunately it sprayed my windshield and my car stank of spanish peepee all day.

DocRay

..I guess I'm lucky he didn't do #2.

gcasillo

Dehydrated brussel sprouts, a stick of butter, and a bottle of worcestershire sauce to wash it down. Decisions are made on internet voting results. Fans are evil like that.

Laggard

There's a gross story about #2 and LeMond during the TDF.

effulgent

And you're not going to share? What fun is that?

fogrider

there are many reasons NOT to go with a break...

hi565