Only the French could come up with something as backward-thinking as banning race radios in professional bicycle races. Soon after the UCI announced their ban on radios in races below the top levels, Canada and Australia followed with their own bans soon after. Not wanting to be the last one to jump into the hole, USA Cycling has now banned all race radios–save for three major races–in the country. On the heels of this news, we’re now waiting for the announcement from the PGA that all metal woods will be eliminated from competition going forward.
Phil Liggett must be jumping up and down with this decision. On many a Tour de France broadcast, Phil has made his feelings known regarding race radios and how the sport should go back to its purer form. I love Phil. He and Paul are the greatest broadcasting team on television, but I couldn’t disagree with him more on this issue.
The argument for the ban is centered on the idea that the riders don’t think for themselves anymore in the middle of races; that all they do is wait for their marching orders from the team car and then proceed on those instructions. What seems to be missing, though, is the fact that teams mull their strategy and tactics over before the start of each stage and then alter those plans on the road as the race unfolds. Sometimes that’s accomplished via radio and sometimes there’s no time to wait and riders must react to situations instantly. Either way, the response from the riders is spontaneous and whether the instructions come from an earpiece or from the elder statesman on the road shouldn’t matter.
All you have to really do is look at a few races in the Tour de France to see that riders are not robotically following instructions from the team car. The stage to Andorra in last year’s tour is a good example. I guarantee that Johan Bruyneel from Team Radioshack did not instruct Alberto Contador to bolt from the group of elite riders with three kilometers to go, but Contador did anyways. Another example would be Alexander Vinokourov’s less-than-friendly team tactics in the 2005 Tour de France when he and Jan Ulrich seemed to be working against each other instead of helping one another. Certainly those disorganized tactics weren’t emanating from their earpieces.
No matter the sport, any time there is an effort to stop the progress of innovation, it invariably comes back to smack the traditionalists in the face. Looking at the golden years of cycling–when the technology for race radios didn’t exist–as something to be emulated is a truly misguided adventure. People, society, and sport all move forward in technological progress, and that progress should be nurtured and channeled, not shunned and banned.
By David Mullin, staff writer
Can we also ban race radio’s on racing car events…ie… the “Indy 500″. Or any car racing events for that matter!!!
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Amen, Dave, and good piece. Agreed, 100%. Well, except for limiting poor policy to the French. I think that can happen anywhere!
Good stuff, though. Cheers, man.
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As someone who raced in the days before radios I actually am looking forward to having no Radios. This will mean that each team will need to have a rider whose job it is to run the team on the road and I can’t think of a better rider to do that then Lance. I hope that this leads to more attacks by the bigger names. Now it seems that they all sit in the main pack until the final few miles and then maybe make a move.
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I also agree with Ray! It will allow for more attacts, and I just can’t wait for mountain stage break awayswhere the middle groups will have to make decesions based on instinct instead of depending on all the facts from the car.
Besides they are taking away radios, not shifters and derailers, or carbon frames, or anything like that! Just something that prevents the rider from having to think on his own for majority of the race. No more skipping the first half of the race because it isn’t until the end that the peleton decides to do something to the break-a-way!!!!
GREAT NEWS!!!
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Echoing Ray’s comment, no race radios will mean those veteran riders (more experience) in the peleton will have more influence in on-the-road tactical decision making… its great to see riders having discussions on the bike on when to go or stay
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Didn’t le tour ban radios for 1 or 2 stages last year? If I remember rightly it was not taken very well by the riders an was a disaster for the spectators.
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maybe we can ban the Shimano electronic shifters and everyone can go back to 853 steel frames with down-tube 12 speed shifters…and no special diets and eliminate the feeding zones….just a stupid thought – forgive me.
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Dave,
I have to disagree. To prove the point talk to Horner about Stage 1 of last year’s ToC. Radios were out, the weather was bad, and nobody on Astana, ‘cept Horny, knew what was going on. Had Chris not realized and rected to Mancebo’s (I think) position ahead on the road LL would have lost more time than he could have made back. Mark me down as one who is looking forward to riders having to read the race themselves and respond accordingly. Sorry to not parrot the company line but the racing will be better and the champions more worthy…
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I like the no radio idea. The races have become predictable. Maybe one rider with an earpiece, like the quarterback in American football.
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I would look forward to no radios. See how contador vs Armsrong goes. Then also riders in lesser teams (eg Evans) may have some chance. Also if a lead rider got into a breakaway – would not be immediately chased down?
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I could not be happier at the ban! Years of boring racing may possibly be reversed, and (maybe)we will really see what this generations racers can do. Don’t equate the radio with a serious technological advancement, either! Using a carbon fiber frame is nothing like having the ability to watch every rider, all the time! Kudos to UCI (first and last time I’ll ever say that)!
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Is this because Team Radio Shack will have the best radios?I heard they will have their favorite music playing while they kick the sh.. out of everyone in the peloton.RADIOS,WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING RADIOS!
GO TEAM RADIO SHACK KICK A..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Banning race radios in the tour was a futile attempt to try and give some Frenchies some sort of a leg up, nothing more. FDJ and the like have shitty Director Sportif’s, and as such, their riders don’t really need their input to lose the race, they will just do it on their own.
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Let’s ban radios, ban TVs, ban the internet, ban celebrity etc!
Let’s keep the bikes and get back to basics.
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Things where working well with radios, why change it then?
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