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Grand Tours - Time bonuses?

Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 10:32 am
by one_damo
Hi guys,

Was just thinking about this the other day. I've noticed recently or maybe just have the opinion that the last couple of years' grand tours have been lacking an extra competitive edge due to no more time bonuses. Perhaps this is also down to a greater spread of quality between the GC contenders, or more conservative attitudes of "protecting a lead" or "saving one's self"?

Personally, with the current state of pro cycling, i'd love to see time bonuses re-introduced. Think it would just spice it up a bit more. Although i guess for the Tour this year, at least most of the big names are all on different teams ...but would bonuses increase GC chances of guys like Nibali, Kreuziger, Van den Broeck or Rogers?

Re: Grand Tours - Time bonuses?

Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 10:46 am
by JV911
don't they still use them in the Giro (and possibly the Vuelta) ? - six, fou- and two second time bonuses awarded at intermediate sprints & the top three finishers in a stage earn time bonuses of twenty, twelve and eight seconds respectively.

Le Tour has phased them out