Tour De France, Bike Race

[alchemysa]

I have a question. I understand how every rider in a group gets the same 'time', but how do they define where the 'end' of the group is? Or to put it another way, 'How close to the group do you have to be to be included in the group?' Is it based on time, metres, bike lengths? I've never heard the commentators explain this, I can't even find an answer on Google.

 

[sseelhoff]

I have a question. I understand how every rider in a group gets the same 'time', but how do they define where the 'end' of the group is? Or to put it another way, 'How close to the group do you have to be to be included in the group?' Is it based on time, metres, bike lengths? I've never heard the commentators explain this, I can't even find an answer on Google.

It is in the discretion of the race commissars. There needs to be a break between the group(s) of sufficient size to justify the time differential. It can be very subjective.

 

[KennyG]

I also enjoy watching the tour, the versus commentators are great, and the scenery is fabulous. Now, to tie this in to tractors, a couple of days ago they showed the peloton cruising through some farmland and there was a beautiful display in a large field.

Farmers had arranged large round bales in the shape of a huge bicycle frame, and they had about eight tractors driving in a circle for the bike's front wheel, eight more tractors driving in a circle for the rear wheel, and some smaller vehicles perhaps ATV's driving in a circle for the front chain ring. I think there was a milk container and perhaps champagne on the frame down tube, likely a reference to the farming region. Anyone else see this?

It was incredible. I wish I had recorded it. Brought the French up a couple of notches in my book. :laughing:

Like everything else, it's on YouTube:
YouTube - ‪Tour De France - Stage 3 - 2011 - Local Farmers make a bike out of hay-bales‬‏

 

[alchemysa]

It is in the discretion of the race commissars. There needs to be a break between the group(s) of sufficient size to justify the time differential. It can be very subjective.

Thanks. You'd think a 'discretionary' method like that would cause plenty of arguments, but I dont seem to hear them.

Is the time differential calculated from the tail of the first group to the front of the second group? Or from the front of the first group to the front of the second group?

Do you know where I can read up on this? I cant find anything on Google but maybe I'm asking the wrong question.

 

[alchemysa]

Is the time differential calculated from the tail of the first group to the front of the second group? Or from the front of the first group to the front of the second group?

I think I found the answer to that in the TDF rules. (Its the time from front of group to front of group, not the time gap between the groups.)

ARTICLE 14 TIMEKEEPING
At a finish, all the riders in the same peloton are credited with the same finish time. At each real break, the timekeeper records a new time. He officiates until the arrival of the broom-wagon. He also records the times of riders who arrive outside the permitted times and delivers this list, with the corresponding times, to the chairman of the stewards committee. All times registered by the timekeeper are rounded down to the nearest second, and only these rounded times are taken into consideration for the general ranking.

(I couldn't find a definition of a 'real break' anywhere. That must be a fun decision!)

 

[Redneck in training]

I watched TDF last night and commentator explained that if the gap is less than 1 sec the rider is part of the group. That is why they always bunch up before reaching the finish line. There is a finish camera above the finish line and I am guessing they all carry a timing chip usually on a shoe.

 

[JB4310]

I think there is alot of discretion, I don't know much about the rules.

But don't forget 90% of those riders never even get there name mentioned, more of a privilege to be allowed in. I didn't see yesterdays stage but the day before saw some serious carnage with many crashes, looked to be a very fast stage.

It's amazing to see the whole peloton moving that fast as a single mass.

One thing I don't get is how the peloton will always catch a break away group, even though the break away may be made up of some of the top riders, the peloton which is made up of mostly the mid ranked riders will always catch them. Is it more physical or psychological??

JB

 

[sseelhoff]

I watched TDF last night and commentator explained that if the gap is less than 1 sec the rider is part of the group. That is why they always bunch up before reaching the finish line. There is a finish camera above the finish line and I am guessing they all carry a timing chip usually on a shoe.

All of the riders have a transponder on the chainstay-the part that runs from the seat tube/bottom bracket to the rear wheel. It's a little yellow box, and they will periodically get a shot of it if they are showing a wheel or gearing in motion.

Found a picture online:

 

[Egon]

[QUOTE One thing I don't get is how the peloton will always catch a break away group, even though the break away may be made up of some of the top riders, the peloton which is made up of mostly the mid ranked riders will always catch them. Is it more physical or psychological??
[/QUOTE]

It's all about wind resistance. Notice how the lead rider is always changing.

 

[piller]

[QUOTE One thing I don't get is how the peloton will always catch a break away group, even though the break away may be made up of some of the top riders, the peloton which is made up of mostly the mid ranked riders will always catch them. Is it more physical or psychological??

It's all about wind resistance. Notice how the lead rider is always changing.

That's right. Think about watching geese fly in their V formations or half V formations, they figured it out.

Usually you will see the yellow jersey and other leaders protected from the wind with their team members alternating to do the work on the front. I believe that energy savings of 20% or more are possible with these methods which is why the peloton almost always will catch the break aways. Occasionally the peloton will allow a break away group to succeed if there are no highly placed or dangerous riders in the break away group.