Cycling: LeMond says restricting radios would make Tour more
exciting
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[June 15, 2017]
By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Three-times Tour de
France winner Greg LeMond believes the use of team radios should be
restricted to make the three-week race more unpredictable.
"The Tour is less complex now because of radios," American LeMond
said in an interview with broadcaster Eurosport for whom he will
again be chief analyst this year.
"Riders are told everything. Maybe they could have one-way radios to
call in mechanical problems, or for more water, but when you
basically have the team tactician in the car calling all the shots
it takes away from the race."
Team orders rule these days making epic duels like that between team
mates LeMond and French great Bernard Hinault on Alpe d'huez in
1986, chronicled in the book Slaying the Badger, rare. LeMond thinks
that is partly down to technology.
"Last year was boring because Team Sky controlled it. "Riders have
become robotic. Racing is not just physical it's also tactical and
psychological," he said.
"But now the team just calls up on the radio and says 'kid this is
what's happening, get up there and ride. I think without that it
would be less predictable. The fans would love it."
Californian LeMond's expertise has become an essential ingredient of
the Tour for millions of armchair fans who will this year, for the
first time, be able to watch every minute of every stage thanks to
Eurosport's enhanced coverage.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jun/15/images/ads/current/brickey_sda_2017.png)
Until now viewers worldwide could not watch the whole stage.
"It's massive thing," Eurosport's CEO Peter Hutton told Reuters of
the upgraded rights agreement with European Broadcasting Union and
Amaury Sport Organisation that will see 54 markets across Europe
benefit from up to 25 hours more live Tour de France coverage in
each of the next three years.
"We are changing it forever. This is the start of a different era.
Logistically it's a massive challenge, but will provide a service
the fans want. Imagine saying to cricket fans you could only see the
last day of a test match and they would think that you are mad."
Last month's Eurosport coverage of the Giro broke their own viewing
records -- partly because the race was so exciting with Dutchman Tom
Dumoulin sealing victory on the final stage.
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![](../images/061517pics/sports59.jpg)
Former three time winner of the Tour de France, American Greg
Lemond, takes time to sign autographs along the route of the 17th
stage of the Tour de France cycling race from Albertville to
Aix-Les-Bains, France, July 29, 1998. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen/File
Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
LeMond, who has also campaigned vigorously against doping and
mechanical doping, believes Dumoulin would have a great chance of a
Giro/Tour de France double if Tour organizers had included a longer
time trial this year.
"Unfortunately for Tom Dumoulin the time trials are not a little
longer," LeMond, who won the race in 1986, 1989 and 1990, told
Eurosport. "There are not too many mountain top finishes which is
good for Dumoulin but I think it still favors riders like (Chris)
Froome."
LeMond believes this year's race which he says is "not so difficult
on paper" will be less predictable than in recent year's when Team
Sky largely controlled it, allowing Froome to win three of the last
four editions.
"It's going to be very interesting, it could be very close. It's not
incredibly difficult," LeMond said.
"The climbing stages are very hard but I think it's not so difficult
as last year when the riders were hesitant and there was a lack of
action. Apart from Froome, I think it's out of Richie Porte and
(Alberto) Contador.
"I would like to see Dumoulin be there and you never know but he
needs a longer time trial to make up time."
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)
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