"All riders may render one another such minor services as lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires, wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among riders from the same team. [...]"
Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give each other help?
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"Richard Bates" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
The website quotes the following rule:
"All riders may render one another such minor services as lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires, wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among riders from the same team. [...]"
Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give each other help?
Nowadays are exceptionally well supported, so inter-team camaraderie features relatively rarely in the TdF. (Mind you, these rules sound a bit antiquated - the idea of anyone faffing about with tubs, as opposed to changing is wheel, is a bit of a joke!) However, consider the situation (which regularly occurs in events of lower stature than the TdF) in which two riders are clear on a long break, with 100km still to go. If one has no supply of food / drink, and the other can supply, it's almost certainly to his advantage to do so, since he's less likely to survive if his partner gets the knock.
"Richard Bates" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
The website quotes the following rule:
"All riders may render one another such minor services as lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires, wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among riders from the same team. [...]"
Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give each other help?
Nowadays teams are exceptionally well supported, so inter- team camaraderie features relatively rarely in the TdF. (Mind you, these rules sound a bit antiquated - the idea of anyone faffing about with tubs, as opposed to changing is wheel, is a bit of a joke!) However, consider the situation (which regularly occurs in events of lower stature than the TdF) in which two riders are clear on a long break, with 100km still to go. If one has no supply of food / drink, and the other can supply, it's almost certainly to his advantage to do so, since he's less likely to survive if his partner gets the knock.
"All riders may render one another such minor services as lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires, wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among riders from the same team. [...]"
Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give each other help?
They often exchange water bottles/food. It's not unlikely that one rider in a breakaway group will take a step back from the front of the group to go get lots of water bottles for the other riders. Benefits all, at the end of the day.
As for bikes/wheels, I remember once Cipollini gave Pantani a set of wheels, 'cause Pantani crashed his. I guess they did it because they were friends though...
BrakePiston <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Richard Bates said:
The website quotes the following rule:
"All riders may render one another such minor services as lending or exchanging food, drinks, spanners or accessories. The lending or exchange of tubular tires, wheels or bicycles is, however, permitted only among riders from the same team. [...]"
Does the goodwill really exist for rival teams to give each other help?
They often exchange water bottles/food. It's not unlikely that one rider in a breakaway group will take a step back from the front of the group to go get lots of water bottles for the other riders. Benefits all, at the end of the day.
As for bikes/wheels, I remember once Cipollini gave Pantani a set of wheels, 'cause Pantani crashed his. I guess they did it because they were friends though...
While we are at it; I have no dish, no freeview box, no cable, in fact only a very bad aerial (waiting for the super whizz bang Sky freedish) so please no spoilers ;-)
