It's because Le Tour is a civilized race. On flat stages, the riders in contention for the overall victory get to race all nice and slow - essentially warm up very nicely. Then once warmed up, their team chases down the guys who have no chance other than a stage victory. Why do you think there is ALWAYS a break away that is caught 2 miles from the finish almost every flat stage? Sadistic bastards let those guys sit out there and fry before they catch them and then contest the sprint.T-Dog wrote:I like how Versus just doesn't give a damn about the flat stages. The race started at 6:55 and their pre-show doesn't start until 8:30 and the race coverage at 9:00, when the race is more than halfway over. But for the Alps stages, their coverage begins at 6:30, right around when the race starts (except for Stage 20, when it begins at 7:00 because the only major climb is Mount Ventoux, which is the final 22 km)
This "non" racing is a big reason why I like the Giro d'Italia more. They shorten the races, so it forces everyone to race from the start. Not this "lets have some tea, take a piss, then get to racing after 75% of the race is over".
In all fairness, the Tour de France is frikken brutal. They average some disgusting speeds everyday over an average of 100 miles a day for 21 stages. I cannot imagine what that would do to a person. The most mileage I EVER put in when training was 375 miles per week. These guys are doing close to 700 at lightning paces.
Sorry, don't mean to sound like a know it all, but cycling is my favorite sport. I got nothing to add when it comes to football.
