Tour de France - Riders criticise radio ban

Eurosport - Fri, 03 Jul 16:17:00 2009

Tour de France riders are voicing their discontent about the decision by organisers to hold two stages in which radio equipment and ear-pieces will be banned.

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"Why not have two days without helmets and two days without brakes?" mused German Jens Voigt.

The 10th and 13th stages will be held without any radio device, in a bid to help riders decide on their own tactics without waiting for instruction from their team directors.

The move, which has been approved by the International Cycling Union, aims at restoring a bit of suspense and action after criticism from past riders that races were becoming too predictable while competitors had lost all sense of tactics and strategy.

"I hope for a little bit of fantasy to return to the race and for riders who take risks to go all the way, said Tour director Christian Prudhomme.

"There is a will from all the actors in the world of cycling to suppress ear-pieces."

But some riders fear for their safety if team officials can no longer warn them about a demonstration, crash or an oil slip on the course.

"If there is a big crash involving several leaders and all the team directors rush to the spot at the same time, there will be real mayhem," said team Saxo Bank director Bjarne Riis.

"It's a huge risk and I sincerely hope it doesn't happen.

"We should live with our time," he added.

Lance Armstrong also deplored the temptation to look back to the good old days when cycling was supposedly more exciting.

"If we go back to the days before the radio, we should start with woollen jerseys and tyres around our neck like in the old days," the seven times Tour champion said.

French riders had a first chance to test the new system in their recent national championship and most thought it had a real influence on the outcome of the race.

But France's leading rider Sylvain Chavanel said he had mixed feelings about the experience. "It's 50-50. It's probably better for the show but not so good for the security," he said.

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Reuters

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  1. the radio's suck.
    they're not needed.
    imagine a­ breakaway......and the peloton doesn't know for­ sure who's gone....and how much of a threat they­ are......or they know they're a threat.....but they­ don't know how far they've gotten­ away.....
    this is great.
    it has the potential for real­ drama.........
    surely an alarm system can be made that­ would warn of real danger.

    From Larry, on Fri 3 Jul 11:36PM

  2. Infantile stupidity. The races are not boring - they­ are fun.
    1. Neither Evans nor Valverde needed team­ radio in the Dauphine
    2. Cavendish doesn't need­ radio to sprint
    3. Surely there was no need for radio­ when Jalabert (Laurent) brakeaway three times in a row­ in 2006

    So as Chavanel said - with or without radio­ makes no difference

    From Trifun, on Fri 3 Jul 6:59PM

  3. If managers/riders are so worried about crashes then­ let them carry one way devices so they can hear a­ neutral hazard/crash radio. I bet few would bother-­ They want radios so they do not need to race unless its­ vital: Hence sterile TV. In the end the races need to­ 'sell' so with no radios the races will look­ better and sponsors will pay more & then the same­ idiots who think radios are ace will find they get paid­ more.
    Don't mix up strong legs with brains- They­ are often mutually exclusive! (Joke)

    From SteveH, on Fri 3 Jul 6:00PM

  4. Its not going to change anything, the riders will just­ watch each other like hawks, I say keep the radios and­ take away the time splits on the breakaways.

    From Tasus, on Fri 3 Jul 5:43PM

  5. About time too,what excuses about security,oil­ slicks,demonstrations,pathetic.Get on with it,radios­ make the racing sterile,riders have their own minds(i­ hope),they should be able to read a race,oh Armstrong­ with his comment about woollen jerseys and tyres,go­ back to Texas and retire. FOR GOOD!!!

    From homerspark, on Fri 3 Jul 5:06PM

  6. Lets face it stage 10 is earmarked for the sprinters so­ it's unlikely to have a major effect but it could­ make stage 13 fun especially if there a decent sized­ break away and everyone in the peleton starts trying to­ check who's there and who isn't. I wonder­ who'll be nominated as register monitor.

    From smallringup_bigringdown, on Fri 3 Jul 3:28PM

  7. totaly agree with you bill ... @#$% yank will want a­ mobile bog in the teamcar as well soon !!

    From Me, on Fri 3 Jul 2:22PM

  8. "If we go back to the days before the radio, we­ should start with woollen jerseys and tyres around our­ neck like in the old days,"

    ..sheesh.. he­ can't even race now without his jersey being undone­ to the waist. Slob.

    From Bill N, on Fri 3 Jul 1:35PM
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