Tour de France 2024

The Game Room
61

I also noticed that Carapaz didn’t use a time trial bike for the time trial. Granted he just had to finish (within the time limit?) to get his jersey, but that was true for Girmay as well. My guess he is just more comfortable on a “normal” bike.

Brian

62

There was some significant climbing, which isn’t very comfortable on a TT bike for people who don’t put a lot of training time in on their TT bikes. If you don’t care about the aero gains because your time doesn’t matter…

63

Pogacar has pulled out of Slovenia’s Olympic team, citing fatigue. No Vuelta, either. Some rest and then prep for the World Championship, which has a parcours well-suited to his talents.

64

“It is a cycling race”?

65

Stage 4 of the TdF Femmes highlighs showed up on youtube and I watched out of curiousity. It was a very close finish. What I found interesting was the race had to stop at a train crossing. Officials kept track of time and once the train left released riders so the time gaps were the same. It was bonus rest, fill water bottles. and grab a bite break.

Brian
(probably won’t follow the TdFF closely, but may at lkeats check standings).

66

What would they have done if say 10 or so riders had gotten past the crossing before it was closed. I suppose they could stop them on the other side, but would they have recorded exactly when they’d crossed or where they were?

67

UCI Rule 2.3.034 Level Crossings
It shall be strictly forbidden to cross level crossings when the barrier is down or closing,
the warning signal ringing or flashing.

Apart from risking the penalty for such an offence as provided by law, offending riders
shall be sanctioned as provided in article 2.12.007; besides, the disciplinary commission
may impose a suspension of up to one month as well as a fine of CHF 200 to 5’000.

2.3.035
The following rules shall apply:

  1. One or more riders who have broken away from the field are held up at a level
    crossing but the gates open before the field catches up. No action shall be taken
    and the closed level crossing shall be considered a mere race incident;
  2. One or more riders with more than 30 seconds’ lead on the field are held up at
    a level crossing and the rest of the field catches up while the gates are still
    closed. In this case the race shall be neutralised and restarted with the same
    gaps, once the official vehicles preceding the race have passed;
    If the lead is less than 30 seconds, the closed level crossing shall be considered
    a mere race incident;
  3. If one or more leading riders make it over the crossing before the gates shut
    and the remainder of the riders are held up, no action shall be taken and the
    closed level crossing shall be considered a race incident;
  4. If a group of riders is split into two groups following the closure of a level
    crossing, the first group will be slowed down or stopped in order to allow the
    delayed riders to return to the first group;
  5. Any other situation (prolonged closure of the barrier, etc.) shall be resolved by
    the commissaires.
    This article shall apply equally to similar situations (mobile bridges, obstacles on the
    route, etc.).
68

It’s too early to start a thread for the 2025 TdF but here’s the route:

69

The Netflix show Tour de France: Unchained is being canceled after this season, to be released before the race this year. This is a bummer, we loved this show.