I wouldn’t I like it as it is .Look at all 3 weeks and how different riders excel at different things .Its great and don't forget its advertising which is why it existed in the first place long stages sponsors on camera going through lots of towns etc.

Wouldn’t the road cycling equivalent be a criterium?

Put it on a downward facing slope. Give the riders chunky tyres, disc brakes and suspension and time them down it. Or at four off at once with some big jumps and berms.

Road racing is my test cricket but with better scenery and long may it remain that way

Er, isn’t it kind of obvious? Just watch the last 20km!

Watch the stage over the cobbles, or The Jensie on a massive break away, or the top 3 dancing up the climbs all having a go at each other.

As said this is the same as Test Cricket/Series like the Ashes, so many small battles in the war, so many tiny things that pass you by when the happen but impact on the results. The fact that there are 3 races going on in the TdF with Green, KOM and yellow up for grabs. Throw in stage wins and the rest and it’s a fascinating sport.

Crits are the 20/20 equivalent, fast, brutal, exciting but it still drags for an hour.

Make EPO legal with the proviso that they take an equal amount of LSD.

Is equally dull.

Watching the specific type of cycling that’s designed to go on for a very long time, and complaining that it goes on for a very long time, seems a little silly. Perhaps I’m judgemental. I’m sure some people watch downhill and think it’d be better if it went on for weeks