Originally Posted by HWS
I have read on this forum and elsewhere that the TTT was not included this year because it gave strong teams to much of an advantage. They were able to increase the team leaders position in GC with a strong TTT. Example would be Postal/Disco.
Just because you read it in the forum or anywhere else doesn't make it so. Also, WHO KNOWS how DC would have performed this year in the TTT if there had been one. Perhaps CSC or TMob would have taken it. The ASO varies the route and the stages to both give variety to the Tour from year to year and to spread the glory of the tour around the country. Sometimes they bunch the Pyrenees and Alps stages together with barely any flat stages in between; sometime they have 3 ITT, sometimes 2, sometimes a TTT, sometimes not. However much it changes, EVERY TEAM and Rider knows months in advance what the stages will be. The playing field is level.
It is interesting to note that the TTT has a longer history in the Tour than the ITT. Still, it's not sacrosanct.
It seems to me you want predictability... but that's exactly what the Tour officials strive to avoid...