@Schwinn Sales West it's not that I do not like stage racing, but it has become a lot less exciting. Too much waiting around to get the job done; teams and riders do not push themselves to their limits for an entire race. Too much picking and choosing. As a cyclist, a runner, and a wrestler I always went all out; win or lose, but there was no free ride with me. You either hung in to beat me or not. I did not like to be able to stand after an effort; but I also understood what you needed to do if required to do it day after day and keeping enough in the tank to perform adequately. When I saw stage 5 and 6 with that many fighting for a stage win it showed that the pace was never pushed and I could have just tuned in for the final minute and just watch a free-for-all with it just being a chance of who avoids an accident rather than who is actually the best rider. Cavendish's win meant nothing to me, not impressive in and of itself. If the pace had really been pushed would he have even been near enough to the lead to be able to push, shove, and not stay his line like so many others? I think not. And yes, I have seen it happen in one day races also, and am not a big fan of them either, but at least it happens less often with riders knowing there are no more stages to make up for a lackluster effort. I am an Ottavio Pratesi kind of guy when he rode as an isolati, but we will never see that type of racing again. Nor that of his countryman Bottecchia.
I know I will be criticized for my views, and so be it. I won't change and neither will the style of racing that prevails in cycling and many sports today and over previous years.
As I said, still enjoy the racing, but much less so. Next year I might view the final couple stages if there is any need to given a close competition near closing.
