[Tedzo]

Originally Posted by photosbymark

A domestique should be a pretty french girl in a maid outfit with the shortest skirt possible.

AMEN! But really, if these guys weren't domestiques they wouldn't be racers at all. They aren't good enough ('good' being a relative term here because they are still amazing!). Also, these guys do win in other races, usually smaller races. Just not the TDF. A team consists of 28 riders and when one squad of 9 riders is racing the TDF other squads are racing different races at the same time. This goes on all season. So there is plenty of opportunity for the lesser name racers on the team to score wins, too. But the TDF gets the TV time.

[Dubgurl]

I see the same thing in F1 racing. One driver is faster than the other, but they're on the same team, so orders say Rossberg wins this race instead of Schumacher cause we don't want Vettel to win. (no Mercades isn't that good I know but still, freaking Red Bull > ) It drives me crazy, what ever happened to "the best person wins"

[Noel]

Just to be selected to ride in the TDF is huge. Wether as a GC contender or the lowliest domestique. It is an accomplishment way beyond anything other professional athletes will ever achieve. So yeah if I where a pro and had the opportunity to bring water bottles to the rest of the team and had no chance of winning anything in the race I would go for it in a heartbeat. As far as I'm concerned, the riders who are there with no chance for individual glory are the real heros of the race. These are the guys who really love the sport and race for no other reason. What would the TDF be with nothing but the handful of riders who get the stage wins and the jerseys?

[rola643]

Originally Posted by Noel

Just to be selected to ride in the TDF is huge. Wether as a GC contender or the lowliest domestique. It is an accomplishment way beyond anything other professional athletes will ever achieve. So yeah if I where a pro and had the opportunity to bring water bottles to the rest of the team and had no chance of winning anything in the race I would go for it in a heartbeat. As far as I'm concerned, the riders who are there with no chance for individual glory are the real heros of the race. These are the guys who really love the sport and race for no other reason. What would the TDF be with nothing but the handful of riders who get the stage wins and the jerseys?

I like that, very well put.

[Xela]

Originally Posted by Noel

Just to be selected to ride in the TDF is huge. Wether as a GC contender or the lowliest domestique. It is an accomplishment way beyond anything other professional athletes will ever achieve. So yeah if I where a pro and had the opportunity to bring water bottles to the rest of the team and had no chance of winning anything in the race I would go for it in a heartbeat. As far as I'm concerned, the riders who are there with no chance for individual glory are the real heros of the race. These are the guys who really love the sport and race for no other reason. What would the TDF be with nothing but the handful of riders who get the stage wins and the jerseys?

+1

Originally Posted by Dubgurl

I see the same thing in F1 racing. One driver is faster than the other, but they're on the same team, so orders say Rossberg wins this race instead of Schumacher cause we don't want Vettel to win. (no Mercades isn't that good I know but still, freaking Red Bull > ) It drives me crazy, what ever happened to "the best person wins"

As much as I hate to say it, I think the best person/car combination has been winning all season in F1. But I did enjoy Abu Dhabi more than most for the very reason that he didn't.

[joemorreale]

The grand tours have become such technical events that choosing the team is solely based on one gc rider. Many sprinters have to fend for themselves and do double duty as water boys. At the end of a flatter stage it is amazing how they can organize, ride so fast and at such high speeds just to come in 12th. Then your day is done, tomorrow you're back to carrying food and water. Would I race like that, yes, it's a team sport and you give til there is nothing left. If you have the genetics to be the leader than you get the glory.

[qmsdc15]

Maybe Cadel is jealous because Thor won more stages last year.