Tdf FAQ
07-05-09, 08:40 PM
#26
trois, mon frère
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Good question. If I'm not mistaken, there is no time limit on wearing the rainbow cuff. Again, if memory serves, Lance wore the rainbow stripes into the early years of his TDF victories. Then he replaced the rainbow with a yellow band. I always assumed he did it as a personal statement that the tour was more significant than the world championship. As I recall, some of his teamates were also wearing the yellow band.
07-05-09, 09:24 PM
#27
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07-06-09, 10:05 AM
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Q: Where is Didi this year?
A: Painting triforks high in the mountain passes and sleeping under the devil bridges.
Really, anyone know what stage he may pop up in?
A: Painting triforks high in the mountain passes and sleeping under the devil bridges.
Really, anyone know what stage he may pop up in?
07-06-09, 10:24 AM
#29
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As far as i know, he goes to every stage, but the media doesn't always find him, or just decides not to place a shot in their broadcast.
Considering that he's just some crazy guy on the side of the road, it's pretty amazing the amount of coverage he does get.
Considering that he's just some crazy guy on the side of the road, it's pretty amazing the amount of coverage he does get.
07-06-09, 01:29 PM
#30
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I'm new to watching the tour and its rules/strategy. how does it help a leader if a fellow team member "chases" a breakaway rider? Say Armstrong's in the lead and sends his domestique (I like that) to "chase" a breakaway rider: how does that help Armstrong? Doesn't he himself have to catch up to prevent Mr. Breakaway from eating into his lead? Is it because the team member will draft him up to the breakaway?
07-06-09, 02:51 PM
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Shame Petacchi isn't in it though.
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07-06-09, 02:58 PM
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I'm new to watching the tour and its rules/strategy. how does it help a leader if a fellow team member "chases" a breakaway rider? Say Armstrong's in the lead and sends his domestique (I like that) to "chase" a breakaway rider: how does that help Armstrong? Doesn't he himself have to catch up to prevent Mr. Breakaway from eating into his lead? Is it because the team member will draft him up to the breakaway?
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07-07-09, 01:06 PM
#33
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First sighting today! Right near the start of the stage, shortly after the "Hinault Chicane".
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07-09-09, 12:54 PM
#34
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If the red circles with white numbers on a Stage map indicates the category of a climb, what does the white "S" in a green circle indicate? I don't know.
.
07-09-09, 03:29 PM
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07-09-09, 03:36 PM
#39
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There's an angel as well, isn;t there? Well, of recent years, anyway.
07-09-09, 03:55 PM
#40
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The angel was the Specialized Angel. I am not certain if she appears outside of North America.
Here's some info on Finishes from the rules:
FINISHES
a) General provisions
Stage finishes are signalled by a “red flame” hanging from the inflatable arch
located one kilometre from the finishing line. In the event that the finishing portal
is absent, the finish is signalled by a black and white chequered flag waved
by a race official. In the event that a rider or riders suffer
a fall, puncture or mechanical incident in the last 3 kilometres and such an incident
is duly recognised, the rider or riders involved are credited with the
same finishing time of the rider or riders they were with at the time of the
incident. They are attributed this ranking only upon crossing the finish line.
If after a fall, it is impossible for a rider to cross the finish line, he is given the
ranking of last in stage. For exceptional cases, the decision taken
by the stewards committee is final.
This measure does not apply to:
• Finishes of the 1st, 18th and 20th stages, which are individual time trials;
• Finishes of the 4th stage, which are team time trials;
• Summit finishes of the 7th, 15th, 20th and stages.
Here's some info on Finishes from the rules:
FINISHES
a) General provisions
Stage finishes are signalled by a “red flame” hanging from the inflatable arch
located one kilometre from the finishing line. In the event that the finishing portal
is absent, the finish is signalled by a black and white chequered flag waved
by a race official. In the event that a rider or riders suffer
a fall, puncture or mechanical incident in the last 3 kilometres and such an incident
is duly recognised, the rider or riders involved are credited with the
same finishing time of the rider or riders they were with at the time of the
incident. They are attributed this ranking only upon crossing the finish line.
If after a fall, it is impossible for a rider to cross the finish line, he is given the
ranking of last in stage. For exceptional cases, the decision taken
by the stewards committee is final.
This measure does not apply to:
• Finishes of the 1st, 18th and 20th stages, which are individual time trials;
• Finishes of the 4th stage, which are team time trials;
• Summit finishes of the 7th, 15th, 20th and stages.
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07-09-09, 04:23 PM
#41
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The other answer is correct, but there can be a couple other reasons. A teammate with a lead group can help slow that group down. He can soft pedal when he gets to the front, or can allow little gaps to open and cause some riders to expend more energy to stay in the break. Another reason is so that, if the group gets caught, the leader will have a teammate with them to work with.
