I like it because we see less aero helmets. No amount of performance is worth looking like that big of an idiot.

---

customerjon @gmail.com is where information happens.

Does anyone on why there is only 2 ITT this year instead of 3 in last years Tour?

It's because of the "Lance Factor". I think that for, like, the last 4 Tours, the directors have been trying to design courses that limit Armstrong and his team's strengths, hence a cutback in ITTs this year, and also a diminution in the numbers and types of mountain stages (another Discovery/Armstrong strength).

See, it really is in danger of becoming the "Tour de Lance".

Antoine della Kahuna

That's bullshit.

Armstrong is also stronger in the Mountain stages. They should then only do flat stages and Boonen or McEwen will win the Tour.

That's what I said. They cut back on the numbers and types of mountain stages to try to limit Armstrong's strengths. I don't think it'll work. But it looks like that's what they did.

T.

Believe me, they do not design the Tour around or against Armstrong. He's a stud cyclist, but you give him more importance/power than he has. The Tour existed long before Lance was born and will continue (and be successful) long after he retired.

I thought the tour directors actually admitted to changing the course around to favor riders other then Armstrong. This was two years I go or something like that. It wasn't that they were out to get him (well not the main reason at least) they just felt that the tour should be a new challenge every year and that the current tour setup favored Armstrong too much and changes might even the field a bit.

I don't remember much so I'm just winging it, but it sure seems like every year the tour favors time trialists and climbers less and less.

It has more to do with doing something against doping. Most organizers think that by shortening the length of stages (especially Mountain stages) and making the overall Tour slightly easier, it will help fight against doping.

I'm not sure I agree with this as I don't think it has much effect on doping, but that's the main reason you see a trend in slightly less difficulties in the Tour for a few years now.

I don't remember well, but I think one of the less mountainous tours of these last 10 years was the 1999 Tour, Armstrong's first win. Definitely not done on purpose for him to win.

Yeah some of those helmets looked somehow misplaced but I reckon Team CSC's skin suits with those glossy black perfectly contoured aero helmets looked super kool. Oh yasss and them P3cs.

Looks like so many people are buying up them PC3s that model will be so common and will soon be reduced to mediocrity.

It already is the Tour de Lance. Has been for the last six years. He owns that shit.

which year had 3 ITT????? not one in the last 6 years.

"PC3s that model will be so common and will soon be reduced to mediocrity."

I'm not sure I understand that comment. How will more people buying a P3C reduce it to mediocrity?

Well when every Tom, Dick and Hairy Guy n Girl owns one how can it retain it's prestige value? But where I come from if I get one I may be the only one who has one. Then I can stick my nose up in the air as if my bike represents my self worth. -:)

Anyway it's arguably the best TT Bike around and value for money. So Cervello is doing a great job if they keep it affordable and available. I say that because even them limited to the Pro team specially tailor made $25,000 BMCs ended up with inferior results and Lance's TrekTTs well knowned to be the result of intensive expert R&D didn't show any superiority over the P3 C that you can buy. In addition the bike is as light as most good road bikes bar them super weight weenies, so can easily be used on group rides through varying terrains.

When I was Superbike Racing I always believed the best stuff was the stuff the top teams used and proven in competition and I reckon the same applies to bicycles.

I think Cervello is just THE TT Specialists and it culminates with the P3C. I'm still figuring out how to buy one to ship out to where I'm at.

[reply]which year had 3 ITT????? not one in the last 6 years.[/reply]

2004 - Prologue, Stage 16, Stage 19. I think...

-Frank

Is the reason the rules have changed regarding amount of time a rider can gain/lose in the Team TT because of the "Lance Factor" also?

Last years tour had 3 ITT, the opening TT, mountain TT and the final TT.

a prologue isn't a TT unless it's longer than 8km...

there hasn't been 3 ITT in the tour in a long time (if ever...)

under 8km isn't a TT, it's a prologue.

"under 8km isn't a TT, it's a prologue."

Yes, by definition. But they still use TT bikes, TT suits, and TT helmets. If it looks like a TT, and smells like a TT...

---

- Nick
Now that I know some of you guys look through the special needs bags for kicks, I'm gonna put some really weird stuff in mine. I can see it now. "What the heck was he going to do with a family pack of KFC chicken, a football helmet full of peanut butter, a 12 inch rubber dildo, and naked pictures of Bea Arthur?"

and usually it's not a TT specialist who wins...but an ex track guy...like a 4km pursuit guy...