ToB - the verdict

jimmerslimmer

Doobz wrote:

After the stage yesterday (on my hunt for bidons) I spoke to some of the riders from the MTN Energade team.
I chatted with them for about 15 mins and asking how they felt the race went and how they found the U.K -

Actually that's another thing I'd change ... compulsory freebies, or at least decent ones like cycling caps, bidons, capes instead of the EON foldable hats nonsense.

Doobz wrote:

The only thing they said that could have been better was the surface of the roads - They said some of them were probably dangerous driving a car lol. Being from South Africa myself and the roads there are not exactly marble smooth. For them to complain about that said alot.. Okay they also moaned about the weather but so did everyone else

A South African team complaining about the quality of the roads is saying alot. My recollection of the roads in parts of South Africa was that they were pretty darn poor. I vaguely remember having to swing of onto gravel sections once in a while to let people overtake.

Doobz wrote:

I would love to see more stages in the hills in Wales as it has so much more to offer then the little lumps they went over this year..

Without trying to mimic classic alpine stages because we cant I reckon a nice route up the A5 to Capel curig and then over Pen Y Pass would make a fantastic stage.

cougie

guv001 wrote:

I cannot believe that the organisers could run a ToB and not venture into Wales. Hopefully next year it will cross the border.

I think it depends on who gives them money. It seems to come from Local Authority - if you want a stage - you have to pay for it.

A stage round Snowdonia would be brilliant to see.

doyler78

jimmerslimmer wrote:

doyler78 wrote:

At least we had Cav The Tour of Ireland is only in its second year and this years coverage and organisation was immeasurably better than last years so it seems we learn our lessons a little quicker than yourselves. Its only taken 4 years for you to put a tour out without a major balls up. I guess it's how you choose to see these things

Couldn't agree more - if your looking for the book of cycle tour foobars I think it was written about the previous ToBs and the prutour before that ...

I guess some of the buzz about the ToB is the surprise that it did come together, and forgetting the NIssan Classic I think the Tour of Ireland for a 2 year old race is phenomenal.

Mind you may have had cav, but at least the ToB didn't have to endure McQuaid...

That really was a low blow :shock: Seen Cav win into Waterford - he really is a class act. Let's hope our Tour and your own can improve on things next year.

Tom Butcher

I thought it was pretty good all in all. TV coverage was OK - at times it was hard to follow the action - whether that was editing or lack of resources to cover several groups I don't know. COmmentary was good - liked HPs co commentator.

Road closure was a bit embarassing at times - as were some of the run ins - but by all accounts better than previous years.

Enjoyed the racing more than I am the Vuelta -less predictable - and good to see DiLuca getting stuck in. Saw the Tour of Ireland too and to be honest I don't think it was any more enjoyable to watch on TV than the ToB - both were quite exciting.

Moomaloid

Rolling road closures have been the standard for as long as i can remember. They run completely smoothly but i think they've done a pretty good job this year.

State of the roads is my bigest bug bear since getting back on my bike. Especially on my commute to work. Motorists complain about us, but i can guarantee any weaving etc by me is down to the crappy roads. London is a disgrace!

GroupOfOne MkII

Saw the following on veloriders and thought it was worth posting here for those that don't venture into those dark & murky depths.

How interesting to read the opinions from the viewers. The camera bikes were in general OK, and I think improved as the race went on, and the"we must face backwards and see faces" focus went away. POV shots (over the riders), 3/4 front and rear, and side on seem to work well. There was a deal of disappointment from the moto-crews who did shoot some brilliant stuff that was lost in the edit. So don't blame them, they have no say in what actually goes out!
Traffic control - in general, best yet. NOTHING moved against the race. I know, I was there. The bits and pieces you saw with parked vehicles were rare and maybe the editor put them in for effect. The Police and NEG combined team worked their butts off to make things safe. Some of the run-ins to finishes were challenging! The incident where the police moto was caught was the only one, and not nearly so close as it appeared on TV. I know because I was 10 metres behind it and closing fast. What didn't get shown was the excellent control and very rapid reactions of the moto who was gone in a second. Again, no real danger.
When those who criticise think about the fact they we have an organiser taking the financial risk of promoting a 2.1 UCI event over eight days on the most crowded roads in Europe, perhaps they should think on a bit. No tour is ever perfect - even the TdF can't stop dogs running out and causing a crash, or mad spectators bringing riders down, would you criticise and blame them for that? Of course not. Bear in mind the years when there was no ToB, and then all the moaning was "why not". We have now got a tour, towns want it, the organisers are highly professional, and it's free. Perhaps being pleased - or even proud? - that it CAN be done, should be the reaction, combined by any constructive and feasible improvement ideas that clearly abound on here. Letter to Sweetspot, anyone?

Moomaloid

Here here!!! Just make sure that the london course next time isn't so dull please.... seemed like such a waste...

Tim Farr

I enjoyed it mainly from my armchair but on the Newcastle day from the roadside near Belsay. Definitely a competitive race and not a post TdeF exhibition type criterium.

A migrant from Mars might think it was the Motorcycle Tour of Britain - 70+ motorbikes!!!

victorponf

I don´t kown if in France or Italia fans heard about ToB, but in Spain even good fans nobody listen about it because the concidence with the Vuelta.

I think if the move to Agoust ToB will be a very best race with better participation

selfpropelledpaolo

Gazetta in Italy wrote about Petacchi's stage wins. The September date seemed to mean that the schools were out to watch in force too.

nwallace

Tim Farr wrote:

A migrant from Mars might think it was the Motorcycle Tour of Britain - 70+ motorbikes!!!

Was suprised to see so many lights following the leading 8 riders in Menock Pass. Picture didn't work out quite as well as I had hoped

Full Set can be found:
http://hyperthenellyphantsports.fotopic.net/c1581144_25.html

cougie

victorponf wrote:

I don´t kown if in France or Italia fans heard about ToB, but in Spain even good fans nobody listen about it because the concidence with the Vuelta.

I think if the move to Agoust ToB will be a very best race with better participation

You say there is a tour ? Of Spain ??

Havent watched any of the stages apart from the Angliru. The TOB seemed much more exciting than the Vuelta.