I noticed the riders didn't drop their helmets at the base of the final climb -- previous years they could take them off when there was a mountaintop finish. I assume this was a rule change but I didn't hear any commentary about it.
I also saw a couple of riders taking water from the side of the road and drinking it. That didn't used to be done for safety reasons. Are the teams putting people on the side of the road with water bottles now? Or did the riders just slosh the water in their mouths and spit it out?
I noticed the riders didn't drop their helmets at the base of the final climb -- previous years they could take them off when there was a mountaintop finish. I assume this was a rule change but I didn't hear any commentary about it.
I also saw a couple of riders taking water from the side of the road and drinking it. That didn't used to be done for safety reasons. Are the teams putting people on the side of the road with water bottles now? Or did the riders just slosh the water in their mouths and spit it out?
Michael
I think because the last climb was a Cat 1, not HC they couldn't remove helmets.
Riders have always taken water from spectateurs. No rule about this. It's up to them whether they want to drink it and risk crook guts.
The only water I saw riders taking to drink was from team staff on the side of the road. It's been years since I saw a rider drink from a bottle given by a spectator, pour over their heads, yes, drink, no.
As I understand it, the helmet rule has been changed: helmets at all times. In previous years, if the last climb was over 5k and ended up hill, you could ditch the helmet.
As for water at the side of the road, LA took a bottle from Disco staff, but I did see Voigt grab a bottle and drink from a spectator.
As I understand it, the helmet rule has been changed: helmets at all times. In previous years, if the last climb was over 5k and ended up hill, you could ditch the helmet.
As for water at the side of the road, LA took a bottle from Disco staff, but I did see Voigt grab a bottle and drink from a spectator.
Thanks. I saw both Voight and LA, but didn't see who handed them the water. In the past I had only seen them getting water from a car so I didn't know if this was a tactics change or not.
Thanks. I saw both Voight and LA, but didn't see who handed them the water. In the past I had only seen them getting water from a car so I didn't know if this was a tactics change or not.
Michael
The finish today was not on a mountain top...the descent to Briancon followed
