In reply to Jimbo C:
> I'm actually quite pleased about this because it should make things more interesting for spectators. Less domination by one extremely strong team and hopefully more individual GC riders battling it out.
I'm not sure that will be the effect. The loss of one or more domestiques to most teams will just be more significant than it already is. The only 'problem' with the TdF is that the best team with the strongest leader is winning - but then it usually does !