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They did it again! The team time trial – my favorite discipline – is non-present in the 2010 Tour de France route - in the same way that it wasn't present in the 2008 Tour de France. They brought back the team time trial in the 09 Tour - and removed it again when planning the 2010 route! How very, very disappointing.
I also find that there are too few mountain top finishes. Paris-Roubaix paves are great but insufficient in my opinion. The Tour needs more action and excitement – and should be as tough as it can possibly get – as Danish filmmaker and Tour commentator Jorgen Leth also strongly believes in.
The Giro organizers have finally realized that viewers want to see tough action and people having to exit because the race is too tough. The Tour organizers, on the other hand, have gotten soft in recent years. Shorter stages, shorter time trials, no team time trials, less mountain top finishes. What a pity! Historic Tour winners would be ashamed!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Thomas,
I agree that the team time trial is a spectacular event however it did negatively affect the race this year. It was the only reason Cadel Evans was dropped from contention, he lost too much time to realistically make up. Although it does necessarily take a team to win the Tour, it still is the one on one battles that make the spectacle. Maybe in a few years when the team time trial becomes a Wold Championship event for the trade teams it will feature more prominently in the tour. As far as making the Tour more demanding I have to warn you to be careful what you wish for. Cycling more than any other sport has a history of drug abuse, not always illegal but often detrimental to the riders health. Riders will make the race no matter what you throw at them. Taking the radios away from the DS of each team will force more decisions to be made by the riders, some will be good others will be bad decisions. I think unleashing the riders will make for more interesting racing, and will be something the "Historic Champions" will greatly approve of. Just my thoughts.
I am glad that the Tour doesn't have a Team TT. The tour was always more about individual performance than money . It is obvious the 2009 tour was ruined by having the richest teams riders on top of the GC early in the race . Very disappointed the 2011 event will be marred by the re inclusion of this farce. I agree that more mountain top finishes round out the results and all for individual TT's close to the finish.
