Bous time/no bonus time?

[It's Chris]

This year the TdF directors have decided to scrap the bonus seconds
during stages of the Tour, leaving rider's stuck with the total time
accumulated from each stage.

What is your opinion on this?

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[ZBicyclist]

It's Chris wrote:
> This year the TdF directors have decided to scrap the bonus
> seconds
> during stages of the Tour, leaving rider's stuck with the total
> time
> accumulated from each stage.
>
> What is your opinion on this?

I don't know. If Evans was one second ahead post-Alps, you'd think
bonus seconds would lead to some interesting strategies.

I feel lost.

I'm sort of paying attention to the TdF in spite of myself, and
didn't notice about the time bonuses until the cyclingnews.com live
report mentioned it. [I prefer their live report because I can read
it at lunch -- and I can get all the way to it on their site without
finding out who won, which makes it more interesting.]

It's depressing that the winners of 3 stages have already been
thrown out for doping, along with their entire team. One of these
riders (Ricco) was on the Giro podium, IIRC.

I don't understand the bit with the pro teams withdrawing from the
Pro Tour. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't. I just don't
understand the issues. I suspect money is involved in some way. ;)

I didn't watch the Olympic trials (in any sport). Is swimming clean?
No, just chlorinated.

I'm a fair weather sports fan, anyway. Sports is entertainment; if
it's not entertaining I feel no particular responsibility to watch,
cheer, or support something monetarily unless my kids are playing in
the game. Wondering whether the winner is really good or just hasn't
been caught yet isn't so entertaining.

[catzz66]

>>
>> What is your opinion on this? [Bonus time/no bonus time.]
>
....
> I feel lost.
>
> ...

I can take it or leave the TdF anymore. It really feels like it is a
half a world away. Print coverage just doesn't do it for me. I'd
rather go outside and ride.

[raamman@gmail.com]

On Jul 19, 12:32*am, "ZBicyclist" <ZBicycl...@excite.com> wrote:
> It's Chris wrote:
> > This year the TdF directors have decided to scrap the bonus
> > seconds
> > during stages of the Tour, leaving rider's stuck with the total
> > time
> > accumulated from each stage.
>
> > What is your opinion on this?
>
> I don't know. If Evans was one second ahead post-Alps, you'd think
> bonus seconds would lead to some interesting strategies.
>
> I feel lost.
>
> I'm sort of paying attention to the TdF in spite of myself, and
> didn't notice about the time bonuses until the cyclingnews.com live
> report mentioned it. *[I prefer their live report because I can read
> it at lunch -- and I can get all the way to it on their site without
> finding out who won, which makes it more interesting.]
>
> It's depressing that the winners of 3 stages have already been
> thrown out for doping, along with their entire team. One of these
> riders (Ricco) was on the Giro podium, IIRC.
>
> I don't understand the bit with the pro teams withdrawing from the
> Pro Tour. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't. I just don't
> understand the issues. *I suspect money is involved in some way. ;)
>
> I didn't watch the Olympic trials (in any sport). Is swimming clean?
> No, just chlorinated.
>
> I'm a fair weather sports fan, anyway. *Sports is entertainment; if
> it's not entertaining I feel no particular responsibility to watch,
> cheer, or support something monetarily unless my kids are playing in
> the game. Wondering whether the winner is really good or just hasn't
> been caught yet isn't so entertaining.

I think when a sponsor pulls a team out due to it's rider(s) getting
caught, the sponsor is trying to take the high road, as it has already
paid for the team but won't be getting any further publicity from that
investment. A lot of teams are sponsored by cycling enthusiast-
businessmen, but they also have to answer to shareholders and when bad
news comes it becomes harder to justify the expense. Festina, mercanto-
uno are two examples of teams that existed because the owners of the
sponsor company loved pro-cycling but had to withdraw because of bad
publicity arising from doping scandals. And yes, watching replays of
pantani in 98, or floyd in 06, or ricco this year- storming through
the filed, really loses it's magic when we have learned the athletic
feat was more pharmacutical deciet.

The only thing I can say, is 10 years ago, I had cycling heroes- and
today, there are none

[ZBicyclist]

ZBicyclist wrote:
> Wondering whether the winner is really good or just hasn't
> been caught yet isn't so entertaining.


A more cheerful view of my sentiment above is provided by that
perpetual optimist, "Bike Snob NYC".
http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/07/old-whine-new-bottle-embracing.html

"Doping in bike racing is simply the gift that keeps on giving, in
that you not only get the excitement of watching the finish, but you
also get the additional excitement of a revised podium a few days
later. How many other sports give you double the number of winners
for your money?"

[emanon]

"catzz66" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:6eec4hF66lt2U1@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>> What is your opinion on this? [Bonus time/no bonus time.]
>>
> ...
>> I feel lost.
>>
>> ...
>
> I can take it or leave the TdF anymore. It really feels like it is a half
> a world away. Print coverage just doesn't do it for me. I'd rather go
> outside and ride.

I'm with you about the riding, but I've got my DVR setup to tape from the
coverage on Versus. Later in the evening, I'll gloss over the highlights.