Video: WynTV at the Tour de France

 Imagine when XC guys join a roadie team ! They must be considered as the Mad Boyz !!

 Unfortunately very true - watched my first TDF live but was surprised it was more of a “tour des voitures”

 @barre: I have no idea why they don't have a no-assistance rule in TDF. It would cut out a lot of the cars (safer, more eco), bring it more in line with real-world riding (who has a back up car shadowing them on rides?) and encourage more durable manufacturing (manufacturers have to build race bikes that can survive a crash)

 @mattg95: need to see some support dirtbikes following DH riders down fort bill with wheels strapped to their back lol

 @mattg95: I agree it’s a neat idea but they already do it: randonneuring.

 @mattg95: No assistance? Most people would think it a little rough if you totaled a wheel on the last stage while leading by 5 mins.
Maybe neutral support cars only

 @tigerfish50: That's racing.

 Kinda like why soccer is played by so many, both sports are easily accessible to a lot of people. Mountain biking in comparison is still kind of a fringe sport.

 @WayneParsons: I think with the new generation of kids entering the sport through NICA (in the U.S.) and other school-aged MTB programs, and with cheap bikes getting better, it will become more accessible and gain a larger audience.

I get it that anyone can jump on a bike and ride a road... but road cycling is so far removed from what most people ever do on a bike that mountain biking almost seems more approachable now. (Especially XC & Enduro).

From a pure spectator perspective... Downhill and XC both blow road cycling out of the water.

 @bonkmasterflex: I forgot to add that with the history of road racing comes the cultural significance of it. It's ingrained in many countries as a viable sport. Mountain biking is still relatively new. It'll get there, but it's not at that point yet.

 Because it's more accessible....and the people running it actually do a good job of getting it in front of the masses, the exact opposite of what is happening with the DH right now.

 @filbertst: XCO is probably the better option for a mass audience - less extreme, more head-to-head drama and easier to film