Discussion thread for Tour de France : Unchained | Official teaser | Netflix
06-11-23, 09:53 AM
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I never realized how poorly structured this race is.
All these crashes that take out a chunk of the tightly clustered peloton are ridiculous.
Seems way more dangerous than ever auto racing.
The crash featured on episode 1 and 2, was it controversial?
It seems like the guy deliberately drove him off the road and flipped into the metal barriers
All these crashes that take out a chunk of the tightly clustered peloton are ridiculous.
Seems way more dangerous than ever auto racing.
The crash featured on episode 1 and 2, was it controversial?
It seems like the guy deliberately drove him off the road and flipped into the metal barriers
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06-11-23, 10:16 AM
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I've watched 2 episodes.
I still need to figure out how the race actually works
There seems to be an individual winner for each segment
but they keep referring to the GC team concept
Why do the teams need to cluster themselves?
There was a scene where a guy left his team behind and was criticized
So, it's not just a free for all where every rider simply tries to finish as fast as he can?
I still need to figure out how the race actually works
There seems to be an individual winner for each segment
but they keep referring to the GC team concept
Why do the teams need to cluster themselves?
There was a scene where a guy left his team behind and was criticized
So, it's not just a free for all where every rider simply tries to finish as fast as he can?
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06-11-23, 10:59 AM
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After reading "The Comeback" about Greg LeMond, I'll never look at the Tour the same way. Too many dirty tactics, back door deals, and bias from the organizers then, and it's probably still going on today. Let's not even get into the doping scandals.
06-11-23, 11:14 AM
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I’m part-way into Tyler Hamilton’s book, “The Secret Race”. It’s quite enlightening on the state of doping during that era.
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06-11-23, 11:30 AM
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Until one begins to understand that the TdF and other grand tours have multiple competitions going on and some of the strategy required to succeed in each of those competitions, then the TdF will probably not make sense, nor will it be enjoyable.
It also takes a while before a noob to cycling understands that you can't simply ride at all out effort for very long, and certainly not for the entire 90 to 120 miles that many stages are.
It also takes a while before a noob to cycling understands that you can't simply ride at all out effort for very long, and certainly not for the entire 90 to 120 miles that many stages are.
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06-11-23, 01:48 PM
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This might also be helpful for understanding how the race works… https://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-fr...xoCSeYQAvD_BwE
Among the questions answered are:
Who owns the Tour?
How are the course’s 21 stages selected?
What are the most famous mountain climbs?
How is the overall winner determined?
What is a peloton, a soigneur, or an echelon?
How big are the prizes?
What are time bonuses?
Who was the first American to compete in the Tour, and who was the first one to win it?
How fast do the racers go down mountain descents?
What speeds can the riders reach in sprint finishes?
Why are the teams known by the names of their sponsors and not their countries?
What do the riders eat, and where do they sleep every night?
What are all those motorcycles doing among the cyclists?
How do the organizers deal with doping scandals?
And is it true that, one year, the top four finishers were all disqualified?
You will find the answers to all these questions, and many more, in this informative, beautifully illustrated, fun-to-read book: Speed Read Tour de France.
06-11-23, 03:52 PM
#32
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06-11-23, 03:57 PM
#33
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Some basics…
1. Each stage is an individual race with a winner.
2. The lowest combined time for all stages determines the riders’ General Classification (GC) ranking.
3. On mass start stages (not time trials), If you finish within 1 second of the rider ahead of you, you both get the same time for that stage.
4. Riding in the draft of another rider will save approx. 30% of your effort to go the same speed. This is the foundation for teamwork.
5. Team leaders (GC guys) will be kept out of the wind for as long as possible to conserve their energy for the times when they can do the most to affect their GC position. GC leaders tend to be the best climbers on the team because big climbs are where the most time can be won/lost.
6. Crashes happen because speeds are fast, roads are narrow, and lots of riders are fighting for the same spot in the peloton at the same time. It’s brutal and dangerous.
Watch races. Watch a lot of them. Chris Horner’s You Tube channel frequently digs into the nuances of racing tactics. It will be confusing for a while, but stick with it and it will start to make sense.
1. Each stage is an individual race with a winner.
2. The lowest combined time for all stages determines the riders’ General Classification (GC) ranking.
3. On mass start stages (not time trials), If you finish within 1 second of the rider ahead of you, you both get the same time for that stage.
4. Riding in the draft of another rider will save approx. 30% of your effort to go the same speed. This is the foundation for teamwork.
5. Team leaders (GC guys) will be kept out of the wind for as long as possible to conserve their energy for the times when they can do the most to affect their GC position. GC leaders tend to be the best climbers on the team because big climbs are where the most time can be won/lost.
6. Crashes happen because speeds are fast, roads are narrow, and lots of riders are fighting for the same spot in the peloton at the same time. It’s brutal and dangerous.
Watch races. Watch a lot of them. Chris Horner’s You Tube channel frequently digs into the nuances of racing tactics. It will be confusing for a while, but stick with it and it will start to make sense.
So, the GC time is a combined time for all team members?
Does the GC time determine the winner of the TDF?
06-11-23, 04:00 PM
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Last edited by shelbyfv; 06-11-23 at 04:14 PM.
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06-11-23, 05:57 PM
#35
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The GC is for individual riders. The lowest overall GC person wears the yellow jersey and is the ultimate winner. There is a team GC that counts the best four or five riders on each team. You’re just scratching the surface. Read up on the green jersey (sprints) and polka-dot jersey (climbs). These jerseys represent other battles that are contested on each stage. Some teams are only racing for stage wins and the green jersey and have no hope of winning the yellow jersey.
06-11-23, 06:05 PM
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06-11-23, 08:03 PM
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As for The Tour Unchained, I also find the faux commentators annoying with their dubbed in hype, but I do enjoy the interviews and behind the scenes footage that we never get while watching standard coverage. It is geared to also be educational for people new to watching racing, which I can’t fault. I have watched the first three episodes and will happily continue to the end.
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06-11-23, 08:22 PM
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06-11-23, 09:41 PM
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Is this a serious assumption? If so, it speaks loudly of your ignorance. Cycling is for LOTS of people, and athleticism comes in many forms.
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06-11-23, 09:42 PM
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There was commentary about certain riders crossing the line way far down on the stage. They weren’t what you would probably hear in a real broadcast. Personally, I was fine with it. It helped tell the story they were trying to tell.
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06-11-23, 09:45 PM
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I am currently reading George Hincapie’s book, The Loyal Lieutenant, and it was confirmed why pro-cyclists got into doping. It was very simple, if you didn’t, you couldn’t compete. George wrestled with it for some time and was killing himself to even finish, where he used to be a top finisher, and decided that either you do it or you give up on your dreams and career. When people have so much invested in a very competitive career, taking the moral high ground and walking away, just is not as easy at it is to judge from the outside.
As for The Tour Unchained, I also find the faux commentators annoying with their dubbed in hype, but I do enjoy the interviews and behind the scenes footage that we never get while watching standard coverage. It is geared to also be educational for people new to watching racing, which I can’t fault. I have watched the first three episodes and will happily continue to the end.
As for The Tour Unchained, I also find the faux commentators annoying with their dubbed in hype, but I do enjoy the interviews and behind the scenes footage that we never get while watching standard coverage. It is geared to also be educational for people new to watching racing, which I can’t fault. I have watched the first three episodes and will happily continue to the end.
Watch the series with the original language and English subtitles. It’s realistic. The English overdubs don’t convey the emotion as accurately.
Last edited by Eric F; 06-11-23 at 09:52 PM.
06-11-23, 10:07 PM
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The TdF is analogous to running 25 consecutive marathons though all sorts of weather conditions (blistering heat, torrential rain, freezing temps) climbing over unbelievably steep mountain passes while enduring levels of pain that would make people quit on the first stage. They may look like pansies in their tight clothing, but they endure hardships day after day that most professionals in “real” sports would walk away from in a heartbeat. I’d like to see you ride 5 centuries in a row with a cracked rib. You obviously have a lot to learn about pro-cycling.
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06-12-23, 05:34 AM
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I liked it.
I watch and enjoy pro cycling - I've always liked the TDF. It's nice to see some behind the scenes and stuff about the daily grind. Cycling is in no way glamorous or posh.
I still think they are doping, and some hints were in this series that indicated the riders knew when another rider was hopped up for a stage. Subtle ways of saying "he had an extraordinary day"... or something along those lines.
I watch and enjoy pro cycling - I've always liked the TDF. It's nice to see some behind the scenes and stuff about the daily grind. Cycling is in no way glamorous or posh.
I still think they are doping, and some hints were in this series that indicated the riders knew when another rider was hopped up for a stage. Subtle ways of saying "he had an extraordinary day"... or something along those lines.
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06-12-23, 05:37 AM
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06-12-23, 05:38 AM
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The TdF is analogous to running 25 consecutive marathons though all sorts of weather conditions (blistering heat, torrential rain, freezing temps) climbing over unbelievably steep mountain passes while enduring levels of pain that would make people quit on the first stage. They may look like pansies in their tight clothing, but they endure hardships day after day that most professionals in “real” sports would walk away from in a heartbeat. I’d like to see you ride 5 centuries in a row with a cracked rib. You obviously have a lot to learn about pro-cycling.
06-12-23, 06:18 AM
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06-12-23, 12:25 PM
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I watched it over the weekend and liked it. I talked my girlfriend through the strategies of bike racing at various points in the video and she was starting to get an understanding. I think the only major plot point they missed from last year's race was Rafal Majka's injury and how it hurt Pogacar's chances to three-peat.
06-12-23, 03:20 PM
#49
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The TdF is analogous to running 25 consecutive marathons though all sorts of weather conditions (blistering heat, torrential rain, freezing temps) climbing over unbelievably steep mountain passes while enduring levels of pain that would make people quit on the first stage. They may look like pansies in their tight clothing, but they endure hardships day after day that most professionals in “real” sports would walk away from in a heartbeat. I’d like to see you ride 5 centuries in a row with a cracked rib. You obviously have a lot to learn about pro-cycling.