Enforce time limit (cut off) or not?

jerry3571

Just heard Mr Kirby saying the Time Limit should be enforced as that's the rules and the bike riders would never ride Grupetto outside of the time limit again.
My thing is that if the riders are knackered then let them have an easy day. If they are forced to ride then that'll mean that doping will be encouraged to keep the non climbers from being eliminated from the race.
Hmmm...

Dorset_Boy

I think Rich's idea of adjusting the cut off times to better reflect the stage is the way to go. Short very mountainous stages don't fit with the current formula.

salsiccia1

There was an interview with Tyler Farrar earlier this week, saying that the parcours in stage races are getting harder and harder, with a large number of riders just hanging on each day. Perhaps the answer is to be more reasonable on the riders. I mean, this Vuelta had 10 summit finishes. Stage 15 was full-on from the flag, and most of the peloton was already on their knees. Add that to mental gradients, and is it too much?

jerry3571

Think that's what I was thinking. The Vuelta used to have lots if dry dusty stages with flat roads which used to go on for miles. Excellent TV for afternoon snoozing after a club run and a few Shandys after.
This vuelta has hardly had any flat stages which is not realistic if they want cleaner cycling.