MONACO, July 3 — 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.
“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 (UCI), 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-time Tour champion said in an interview with French television.
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. – Reuters
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