In case you missed it, the super-short but super mountainous stage 17 of the Tour de France began with a new and innovative Formula One style grid start today, before riders went straight uphill on the Col de Peyresourde.
>>> LIVE: Tour de France 2018 stage 17 – short & brutal mountain stage through the Pyrenees
You can read the ins and outs of how it all worked here if you want, but you’ve probably realised by now that it didn’t quite have the impact perhaps the race organisers were hoping.
Nevertheless, Twitter users from around the world of cycling were quick to make their assessment of the experiment, and to be honest, it wasn’t overwhelmingly positive.
Here you can relive the sensation of the Tour de France’s first ever grid start:
Build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, build up, start, nothing happens #TDF2018
— The Puncheur (@thepuncheur) July 25, 2018
Think this means it won’t make the podcast:
Wow! Grid start was good wasn’t it!
— Brad Wiggins (@SirWiggo) July 25, 2018
Primož Roglič looking the most ready out of this bunch…
Disappointed with Roglic, he was clipped in and ready to go! #TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/BOR1Iow9Qq
— Paul Knott (@P_Knott) July 25, 2018
Let’s go for the third one.
Big fan of @millarmind’s description of this start grid idea as a “long lunch idea from the ASO”. For those of you not familiar with a Millar long lunch this means it’s either the GREATEST IDEA IN THE WORLD. Or the worst. Or it may be an idea that isn’t remembered in the morning.
— Fran Millar (@franmillar) July 25, 2018
Some just kept it simple.
Well that was disappointing and stupid #TDF2018
— José Been (@TourDeJose) July 25, 2018
That grid start was exhilarating #tdf18
— Matt Goss OLY (@mattgoss1986) July 25, 2018
Luis possibly relieved and sad at the same time he didn’t get to experience the grid.
😓😓😞🤐
— luis leon sanchez (@LLEONSANCHEZ) July 25, 2018
At least the safety car didn’t have to come out.
16 days of qualifying and Geraint Thomas goes from pole position to 35th! He must be gutted!
— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) July 25, 2018
Pray for Arnaud, dropped before he’d probably even crossed the start line.
#TdF2018 – Demare dropped. 25% time limit today.
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) July 25, 2018
Positive thinking Arnaud Démare. Positive thinking! #courage #TDF2018
— Mikkel Condé v2.0 (@mrconde) July 25, 2018
But let’s look on the bright side…
Anyway, chapeau to ASO for giving it a try. Surprised it was never tried in a smaller WorldTour race beforehand.
— Gregor Brown (@gregorbrown) July 25, 2018
You can’t argue with that.
That was the best Tour de France grid start I've ever seen.
— Daniel Friebe (@friebos) July 25, 2018
