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Chris Froome calls for time trial bike ban in professional cycling

"Is it really necessary for us to have time trial bikes in road cycling? At what point do we start thinking logically about our sport and introduce measures to make it safer?"...

Chris Froome has made the case for banning time trial bikes in professional racing, suggesting using road bikes would be safer and fairer.

The four-time Tour de France winner acknowledged that even despite his time trial pedigree, and the fact most of his major wins have involved excellence in the discipline, he still believes the bikes are not safe for use on open roads.

Froome's comments come two weeks after his former teammate Egan Bernal suffered a devastating crash while training on his Pinarello time trial bike in Colombia, while Froome himself also suffered career-threatening injuries in a fall while training on his time trial bike at the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné.

The 36-year-old echoed Tom Pidcock's comments about time trial bikes being too dangerous for training on public roads, but went one step further and suggested using road bikes for time trial events too.

"Is it really necessary for us to have time trial bikes in road cycling?" Froome asked in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel. "Being out on my time trial bike this morning, and in light of recent events, time trial bikes are not really meant to be ridden on the roads the way that we need to ride them in order to be ready.

"To be able to get ready for an hour-long time trial you have to get out there on your time trial bike and simulate that. How many roads around you do you know that you can ride for an hour in almost closed road conditions where there is no traffic, no stop signs, no traffic lights? Those conditions do not exist in the real world.

"When you are on the skis (handlebar extensions) you have no brakes. You need to sit up, it is not really that safe. It is one thing when you are racing with closed roads, and even then we see some pretty horrendous accidents, but it is completely another thing when you are out on open roads with traffic and people crossing the roads.

"Given the dangers involved with training and racing on time trial bikes, and given the discrepancy in equipment in terms of time trialling, would it not be a lot more uniform to have time trials done on road bikes?

"Without a doubt I think it would make it more of a level playing field, and it would make it a lot more about the skill of the individual riders, as opposed to so much about aerodynamics, time in the wind tunnel, and basically the funding that goes into a project.

"I find it quite ironic that the UCI has introduced things to try and make the sport safer, by limiting the position you can use while on the bike but, in my opinion, something like this which would be easy to introduce would have a far greater impact on the safety of professional cyclists."

Froome was quick to point out a time trial ban would most likely impact his own fortunes negatively but stressed the bigger picture of rider safety is more important.

"Most of my big victories...there have been time trials in there," he admitted. "I love time trialling, it is an art, a skill, it is really nuanced. It is something you really need to know a lot about to get it right as a professional cyclist. That is one of the magical things about Grand Tour racing and the balance between climbers versus guys that can time trial.

"I realise most of my accolades have come from events with time trials in them, but at what point do we start thinking logically about our sport and introduce measures to make it safer?

"It would probably leave me at a disadvantage if it was implemented but it definitely got me thinking about the bigger picture and safety of athletes as a whole."

In the video, Froome also addressed the perennial question of do cobbles and gravel stages have a place in Grand Tours?

In 2014, the then Team Sky rider crashed out of defending his yellow jersey on the Paris-Roubaix stage during the fight for position before the race reached the cobbles.

"It is a tricky one," he continued. "It does give excitement to the race, but it is just such a big risk as well. When you think what it takes to be ready to go into a race for general classification. It is months of dedication, not just from the team leader, but the team around him, the whole support crew, everything.

"Which can literally all be for nothing if you get into a gravel or cobbled section. I see the excitement side, but it really is rolling the dice in terms of risk versus reward for the GC guys. When it affects a whole stage race or Grand Tour I think it is a big shame."

Finally, addressing his own training and ambitions for 2022, the seven-time Grand Tour winner said doubts remain about his race programme, although the Tour de France remains top priority.

"My race programme is still to be decided, I will most probably start racing at some point in March but we will decide as we get closer to the time and see how the numbers and condition are as I get through the next training camp.

"Still the big goal will be to be in peak condition for the Tour de France but we are keeping a very flexible approach to the season and build-up to that point."

Dan joined road.cc in 2020, and spent most of his first year (hopefully) keeping you entertained on the live blog. At the start of 2022 he took on the role of news editor. Before joining road.cc, Dan wrote about various sports, including football and boxing for the Daily Express, and covered the weird and wonderful world of non-league football for The Non-League Paper. Part of the generation inspired by the 2012 Olympics, Dan has been 'enjoying' life on two wheels ever since and spends his weekends making bonk-induced trips to the petrol stations of the south of England.

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38 comments

Avatar
Jimmy Ray Will | 2 years ago
0 likes

He's probably right really... On the TT thing. If you can't realistically train safely on a TT bike (on open roads), then are they going to be safe for racing? 

And this is becoming a bigger thing now as understandings around aerodynamics grow and optimum positions become more extreme (in respect to compromising control for optimised aero performance). This move to extreme positions means less control, but also increases the need to train and adapt to the positions... so you have to spend more time in an arguably unsafe position. 

And for what? Ultimately TT's could absolutely be ridden on standard road bikes... a few of the faces might change, but I'm guessing not many. 

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Flintshire Boy | 2 years ago
0 likes

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Chris Froome.

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What the hell would he know?

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Oh, hang on ......

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Welsh boy | 2 years ago
0 likes

I agree with Froome, I have said for a long time that dedicated TT bikes should be banned from (at least) the grand tours, i am not 100% sure why I feel that way, I think it is mainly because it is taking the sport in a direction where technical input becomes too important (think Formula 1 borefest).  I have also argued for a lont time that there is no place for cobbles or gravel sections in grand tours, there are enough one day events for the riders who specialise in that type of event, the cobbles and gravel add too much of an element of a lottery into a long stage race.  Finally, i am not keen on this competition the organisers seem to be caught up in trying to get the steepest hill possible in to a grand tour, all that happens is that everyone starts using mountain bike gears for a section of road which is so steep that it doesnt affect the overall standing whatsovere.  Back in the 1970's grand tours didnt have these silly gradients and TT bikes in them but the racing was still exciting, maybe I am old and grumpy but maybe it is time to bring racing back down a step or two on the technology front.  And dont get me started on race radios...

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Born_peddling | 2 years ago
0 likes

Take away TT and or gravel what's next downhill, BMX cross for kids? 🤔 As an athlete if you can't adapt, coach instead don't turn what's left of cycling into a two wheeled donkey bore like the current grave that's formula 1 racing. It's already an elitist and discriminatory sport as many already know.... Food for thought

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Rendel Harris replied to Born_peddling | 2 years ago
2 likes

Born_peddling wrote:

Take away TT and or gravel what's next downhill, BMX cross for kids?

Nobody is suggesting taking away time trials though, just that they should be done on normal road bikes as they were up to the 1980s.

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Pepperami replied to Born_peddling | 2 years ago
2 likes

Surely doing TT on road bikes makes the sport less elitist as lower down the ranks it is one less bike to buy for young/ up coming cyclists.

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jn46 | 2 years ago
1 like

How ironic that ever since triathlon was invented, cyclists have mocked triathletes for poor bike handling skills.

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Simon E replied to jn46 | 2 years ago
1 like

jn46 wrote:

How ironic that ever since triathlon was invented, cyclists have mocked triathletes for poor bike handling skills.

The attitude of many triathletes to their bikes and riding the bike leg, even at a high level, has been mocked over the years for very good reasons.

I think it's comical that most of the people criticising Froome have probably never ridden a full-blown TT bike competitively or won a time trial.

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chrisonabike replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
10 likes

Garage at Large wrote:

[...]

Well I have to say, you're not laughing now are you?!

[...]

Bob Monkhouse wrote:

They all laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian. Well, they're not laughing now.

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TheBillder replied to chrisonabike | 2 years ago
0 likes
chrisonatrike wrote:

Garage at Large wrote:

[...]

Well I have to say, you're not laughing now are you?!

[...]

Bob Monkhouse wrote:

They all laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian. Well, they're not laughing now.

Clearly heaven has had an upgrade if road.cc is available there.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to TheBillder | 2 years ago
0 likes

TheBillder wrote:

Clearly heaven has had an upgrade if road.cc is available there.

Have you not heard of cloud computing?

Avatar
TheBillder replied to hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
1 like
hawkinspeter wrote:

TheBillder wrote:

Clearly heaven has had an upgrade if road.cc is available there.

Have you not heard of cloud computing?

I'm so behind, I've only just realised that Rackspace isn't third party torture equipment hosting.

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chrisonabike replied to TheBillder | 2 years ago
1 like

He has already done a sketch from beyond the grave:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quxOMX1jl1w

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Mybike replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
10 likes

Do you own a bike or just post useless comments on a bike site. 

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IanMSpencer replied to Mybike | 2 years ago
4 likes

Don't sweat it. Statistically, this makes him 730 times more useless than a stopped clock.

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Jimwill replied to IanMSpencer | 2 years ago
8 likes

I'm bout to go out on the TT bike without a helmet or hi-vis tabard, riding in a pack of 20.
Garage bingo

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Rendel Harris replied to Jimwill | 2 years ago
5 likes

Jimwill wrote:

I'm bout to go out on the TT bike without a helmet or hi-vis tabard, riding in a pack of 20. Garage bingo

That's enough for a line, for a full house you must be middle-aged, carrying a few excess pounds, be an immigrant and live in crime-ridden London.

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Flintshire Boy replied to Jimwill | 2 years ago
1 like

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Enjoy.

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And when you get back, maybe engage substantively with the point raised, eh?

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Or is that too much of a challenge for you?

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Jimwill replied to Flintshire Boy | 2 years ago
5 likes

Thanks, I did
And I would but your hero doesn't raise any point worth any substantial engagement, probably something to do with him being a dickhead

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Rendel Harris replied to Flintshire Boy | 2 years ago
4 likes

.

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lesterama replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
5 likes

Perhaps try trollsplaining this to your mates on your solo rides instead.

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Flintshire Boy replied to lesterama | 2 years ago
1 like

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Perhaps try challenging the points raised.

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Rather than going straight to ad homs..

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If you can only resort to personal insults, then it's clear that you have no actual - you know - valid points.

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Rendel Harris replied to Flintshire Boy | 2 years ago
5 likes

Flintshire Boy wrote:

 

If you can only resort to personal insults, then it's clear that you have no actual - you know - valid points.

Something you have proved time without number.

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lesterama replied to Flintshire Boy | 2 years ago
4 likes

If Garage hadn't made a frequent habit, over many months, of creating tedious arguments for the sole purpose of winding others up, I would happily discuss the various points. As it is, I have no interest in feeding the trolling, only flagging it. (I do agree with elements of his arguments against TT bikes, but no point feeding the secondary gain.)

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Flintshire Boy replied to Lance ꜱtrongarm | 2 years ago
0 likes

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Thanks, Garage, for echoing Nigel when he addressed the EU Politburo after our successful EU referendum.

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Nope - they are deffo. not laughing now.

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adamrice | 2 years ago
1 like

I wonder if there's a similar debate happening among triathletes.

I've got clip-on bars on my distance bike. I don't use them in urban areas or anyplace where there will be a lot of traffic interactions. A little common sense goes a long way.

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Slappers66 | 2 years ago
1 like

Bikes and positiones are becoming extreme because the pressure is on to win. Only the UCI can change this. Won't change anything really the best riders will still win ITT's 

There seems to be a rebellion among many top riders about TT bikes (i can understand it after Bernals issues) but other top riders baulking at gravel/Pave/loose surfaces. For loose surfaces/Pave I've always been of the mind that if your country has these roads then they should feature at times. 

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EddyBerckx | 2 years ago
5 likes

Ultimately...the people who win now will still win on a road bike surely? Is Ganna or Rohan Dennis weak on a road bike then? Of course not.

It'll change the lower positions of course as those who go all in on the aero thing lose their advantage, but honestly, I don't see a problem with resetting back a few decades. It's meant to be the strongest rider wins not the one with the fanciest bike that spent ££££ in a wind tunnel.

Might stop the ridiculous arms race cost in amateur TT'ing too. 

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barongreenback replied to EddyBerckx | 2 years ago
1 like

I was wondering this.  Do we actually need to see seconds shaved off the time that would have been achieved on a standard bike on an arbitrary course?  Or is the key to success now who can contort themselves into the most ridiculous position?  As a spectator, I really don't feel any desire to see a special bike being used for this purpose.

And yes, the amateur thing is silly.  To think that a win at your local TT can be edged by the guy with the biggest bank account rather than the best legs.

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richliv replied to barongreenback | 2 years ago
0 likes

Yes, it was always a bit bonkers not to level that playing field. But tbf my local TTs sometimes had one class for "standard" and one for "TT" bikes which seemed a better split. I felt less bad being caught by a minute man in teardrop helmet, disk wheel etc like that. I wouldn't ban TTs though, they're part of the culture, but I don't feel any great pull to do any more.

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