Tour de France Standoff: No Radios for Stage 10 Lead to Negative Tactics as Peloton Neutralizes Race

In what was a major disappointment for cycling fans world-wide, the Tour de France peloton chose to soft pedal their way through most of stage 10 as a sort of unofficial protest over the ban on race radios for the stage. Many riders and directors, including many old schoolers like Jens Voigt, had complained that they were not in agreement with the radio bans for both stage 10 and 13, and in the end the peloton had their way, riding the majority of the stage at a rambling, easy pace.

While safety of the field was mentioned as the primary reason for the disagreement among the riders about the radio ban, one couldn't help but think there may be more to it than that. Most riders these days have never been without race radios, and are instead led each day from the team car by their director, who is usually watching on a TV in the car while communicating with the team via two-way radio as well. Unlike in the past when riders had to have a cohesive game plan ahead of each stage and stick with it, today's technology allows for teams to make drastic adjustments on the fly, and keep better track of the situation on the road.

Lost amid all the rhetoric about safety and progress is the fact that the race radio ban, if adhered to by the peloton, could have provided a dramatic opportunity for some exciting tactical happenings. Instead, the stage became a snooze fest as the field basically mailed in the entire day without trying to race for themselves without radio support. Hard men from yesteryear like Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckxx must be laughing at the tentative nature of today's peloton. Just over ten years ago pro cyclists somehow managed to get along without radios while today the modern peloton acts as though it is an impossibility.

Hopefully the entire Tour de France field will do an about face come stage 13 and use the day without radios to actually race, but don't hold your breath. The pro peloton is a stubborn entity, and the riders are keenly aware that they make the race. Just because a rule is put in place doesn't mean that the field will obey and fall in line. Perhaps certain teams and riders though will relalize that they have a golden chance to take some time back on Astana with radios out of the way. Perhaps Cadel Evans or Carlos Sastre will try to spark a decisive break in hopes of grabbing back some time from the Astana leaders. If not, exect another snoozer for stage 13 in a couple of days time.