Velominati Super Prestige: Giro d’Italia 2016

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• @chris

  @dinosaurJR, @Teocalli

  Totally agree, if you bail without being unable to go on (Contador in 2014, Ocana in 1971), stage wins shouldn’t count and you shouldn’t get to start the next one.

  Thomas would have got a pass in 2013 but he didn’t realise you’re supposed to retire when you bust your pelvis.

  I like the cut of your jib, fella.

  Should one leave the race without good reason - and no, "I'm saving the legs for the TdF", isn't good reason - the stage results you had achieved in said abandoned race are disregarded and you and automatically are barred from starting the next years edition.

  This is a slap in the face to Italy, Coppi, Il Tricolore, Lasagne, Chianti, Grappa, Cippo, Il Dolomiti, Gianluca Vialli and Great Pantanis Ghost!

• @dinosaurJR

  er ........ Cippo?? He of the King of the One Week Tours?  That Cippo?

• @Teocalli

  Distributing sprint stages more through the 3 weeks might help. I know they are to some extent but there does seem to be a growing bias towards week 1 to give the sprinters a bagful and then leave. I often wonder what it’s like for the rest of the team when the main man is a sprinter.

  I can't help but wonder if the Champs Élysées sprint finish and the prestige it embodies didn't exist, how many sprinters would make it through Le Tour?

  To address your musing about sprinter orientated teams after the big boys pack up their wattage bazookas and go home - they're probably relieved; it becomes a far easier final week with no boss rider to protect, I would imagine. Just keep your head down, stay out the wind and make the time cut. If you feel like it, jump on a break, if you don't then don't... I'm guessing, of course...

• @dinosaurJR

  Gents,

  I have a question;

  Am I the only one who thinks it is disrespectful and indicative of a lack of moral fibre for so many sprinters to simply “leave” the Giro? The worst for me is Kittel and Greipel whom have / are planning to abandon the Giro whilst in possession of the Maglia Rosso! I find this unbelievable! Apparently Caleb Ewen will also make a “planned abandonment”.

  What is going on here, fellow followers of the V? Surely if you enter a race you finish it unless ill / injured or by some other mechanism become incapacitated and unable to compete further?

  The Giro is a Grand Tour, FFS! Le Tour is not the be all and end all of our beloved sport. Is this indicative of a deeper problem in cycling? Are Grand Tours too hard? Should there be a World Tour (or what ever it’s called these days) points penalty for riders who purposefully abandon a race? How about a financial penalty?

  I know I said I had “a” question… Sorry. This just gets on my tits a little bit.

  No SHIT!  Completely agree!  There ought to be a LAW against it!!! (or at least a Rule, eh???)

• @Teocalli

  @dinosaurJR

  er …….. Cippo?? He of the King of the One Week Tours? That Cippo?

  On reflection, I probably should have left him out...

• @sthilzy

  Same thought train as you! Enter race to finish race, unless injury takes you out. Refer to Rule #70

  Good knowledge of The Rules there. Injury, crowd barrier, well meaning but over zealous spectators, poorly piloted motor vehicles, acts of God, acts of Dog, etc.

• @dinosaurJR

  @sthilzy

  Same thought train as you! Enter race to finish race, unless injury takes you out. Refer to Rule #70

  Good knowledge of The Rules there. Injury, crowd barrier, well meaning but over zealous spectators, poorly piloted motor vehicles, acts of God, acts of Dog, etc.

  Acts of Frahnk?

   

  But Rule 70 does not really cover this.  The sprinters are there to win sprints.   So, one could argue that they are honouring Rule 70 b/c they are only there to win stages and if the race does not have sprint stages left, why continue to ride.

  Now I do not believe this, I think that they should honour the race by continuing until the end, but I am sure that is the thought process.

• @Buck Rogers

  @dinosaurJR

  @sthilzy

  Same thought train as you! Enter race to finish race, unless injury takes you out. Refer to Rule #70

  Good knowledge of The Rules there. Injury, crowd barrier, well meaning but over zealous spectators, poorly piloted motor vehicles, acts of God, acts of Dog, etc.

  Acts of Frahnk?

  But Rule #70 does not really cover this. The sprinters are there to win sprints. So, one could argue that they are honouring Rule #70 b/c they are only there to win stages and if the race does not have sprint stages left, why continue to ride.

  Now I do not believe this, I think that they should honour the race by continuing until the end, but I am sure that is the thought process.

  This could be wrapped up in the same rule that outlaws rest day swaps:

  Rule #95 // Any rider, whether real or virtual, picked to ride a Grand Tour shall be expected to finish barring serious injury or other medical condition.

  Failure to complete a Grand Tour in lesser circumstances shall result in any stage wins being struck from the record books and automatic ineligibility for the next edition of the Grand Tour in question. Teams, real or virtual, allowing a rider to retire during a Grand Tour shall receive no World Tour or VSP points for that Grand Tour.

  Messrs Thomas, ten Dam and Hoogerland will be the final arbiters of whether an injury or illness qualifies for exemption

• I hear you all, but alas, we live in an age of carefully planned blocks of training and racing. A rider's whole season is carefully strategized and unfortunately this means riding some races to win, some for training and some for a bit of both. If you are a contender and have had a bad day or a sprinter whose stage opportunities are gone, I do see the rationale for quitting. I'm not saying I agree with it, but I understand it - especially if there are other goals for the season.

• @chris

  @Buck Rogers

  @dinosaurJR

  @sthilzy

  Same thought train as you! Enter race to finish race, unless injury takes you out. Refer to Rule #70

  Good knowledge of The Rules there. Injury, crowd barrier, well meaning but over zealous spectators, poorly piloted motor vehicles, acts of God, acts of Dog, etc.

  Acts of Frahnk?

  But Rule #70 does not really cover this. The sprinters are there to win sprints. So, one could argue that they are honouring Rule #70 b/c they are only there to win stages and if the race does not have sprint stages left, why continue to ride.

  Now I do not believe this, I think that they should honour the race by continuing until the end, but I am sure that is the thought process.

  This could be wrapped up in the same rule that outlaws rest day swaps:

  Rule #95 // Any rider, whether real or virtual, picked to ride a Grand Tour shall be expected to finish barring serious injury or other medical condition.

  Failure to complete a Grand Tour in lesser circumstances shall result in any stage wins being struck from the record books and automatic ineligibility for the next edition of the Grand Tour in question. Teams, real or virtual, allowing a rider to retire during a Grand Tour shall receive no World Tour or VSP points for that Grand Tour.

  Messrs Thomas, ten Dam and Hoogerland will be the final arbiters of whether an injury or illness qualifies for exemption

  Fuck yeah!  Give that man a Rule!