2016 'PRO' cycling discussion.

[djbowen99]

The new DiData Kit, more black and bit more green:

What's going on with the saddle rail?

[Rondje]

The wire coming out of it on the back?

Other Cyclingnews: Organisers RCS Sport, Flanders Classics and ASO all reducing the amount of riders per team racing. In the 3 GT's its going to be 8 instead of 9 and in the classics 7 instead of 8. No new teams added which will result in a smaller peloton.

[djbowen99]

the non drive side rail looks mangled.

[Rondje]

Think that's deception because the angle of the picture. Shot taking from the ground and Cav isn't holding his bike straight.

[boysa]

I think reducing the size of the teams is great news. Should open things up a bit.

[Kjetil]

Great news indeed. Should give us more open racing in the GTs and maybe also safer one day races.

[wingguy]

The wire coming out of it on the back?

Other Cyclingnews: Organisers RCS Sport, Flanders Classics and ASO all reducing the amount of riders per team racing. In the 3 GT's its going to be 8 instead of 9 and in the classics 7 instead of 8. No new teams added which will result in a smaller peloton.

That's awesome - I had been wondering if they were going to insist on that with the UCI in return for having to accomodate an extra WT team. Will they now be able to invite an extra wildcard or two to mainatin the overall size of the peloton?

[boysa]

Gosh, I hope not. Reducing the size of the field is the part which excites me. If they cut team rosters simply to add more teams, seems counterproductive. Of course, nothing they do shocks me anymore.

[wingguy]

Gosh, I hope not. Reducing the size of the field is the part which excites me. If they cut team rosters simply to add more teams, seems counterproductive. Of course, nothing they do shocks me anymore.

Is the overall size of the peloton the problem? It's more the firepower that each individual team can call upon that lets a well drilled unit neutralise the racing.

Plus, the thing that pissed off ASO and the others about the extra WT team was that it cut the number of wildcards they could choose. Like for the TdF, any non-French Pro-Conti outfit can just forget about chasing a wildcard spot if they can only choose 3...

[KWalker]

1 rider per team isn't all that huge of a cut.

[Rondje]

Gosh, I hope not. Reducing the size of the field is the part which excites me. If they cut team rosters simply to add more teams, seems counterproductive. Of course, nothing they do shocks me anymore.

Is the overall size of the peloton the problem? It's more the firepower that each individual team can call upon that lets a well drilled unit neutralise the racing.

I think it's a combination of both. For the spectators smaller teams might make for a more interesting race. But if I remember correct there have been multiple riders saying a smaller peloton would make a safer race. I doubt that because everyone still wants to be on the frontline at key moments in the race.

[boysa]

I think it just gives a bit more room on the road, which to me means safer and greater opportunity.

[Rondje]

Article with Lefevre (sorry in Dutch) http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20161125_02592639
He says it won't help safety and organisers instead should choose better roads to make a safer race. He also points out it might cost allot of riders a contract if team's need less riders which would result in maybe 100 riders and 25 soigneurs with out a job.
Of course he got a double agenda being one of the stronger/richer teams but he makes a fair point in regards of roads.

[KWalker]

1 less rider per team, but how often is the entire race together at the finish to where -15 to -17 riders or whatever the total is actually matters at the front of the race? I would imagine the better argument is that there is more action with less team control.

Not sure why Vaughters cares since this actually gives them a greater probability of actually achieving some kind of decent result eventually.

[tymon_tm]

lol, looks like UCI decided to remind us of its existence

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-to- ... eam-sizes/