Exactly my point! If you sign up or join an event of whatever distance, unless there is some other mitigating factor you prep for the distance and sort of ride you’ll be doing.
It’s not a coincidence that people towards the pointy end of the race/ride choose to use the coffee breaks on harder sections of the course.
Is the simple response to this, if you want to race, join a race.
If you want to race a group ride, you know there are coffee stops and the like that may frustrate you. Either temper your expectation of group rides, or join the event that is set up specifically to meet your requirements - A race.
And in conjunction with that put a default fence lets say 45 seconds off the front of ALL GROUP RIDES so that anyone who decides to race a GROUP RIDE gets zapped from the ride with no chance of returning
But you can hardly call them group rides seeing as everyone is all over the place too. One persons hard effort may well put them 45 seconds off the front.
Simply yes. I didnt realise (and so for me it makes this thread worthwhile) that the ZRacing series was in conjunction with the ToW so therefore will also complete the stages that way.
Lesson learnt for next time.
in which case they get zapped out the ride, one group ride that I do regularly when I ride on Zwift, the group leader suggests to all those that really want to hammer a segment, that they drop off the back of the main blob, so that when they go for it, they end up either with or just in front of the blob after the segment end, they also slow the pace for a bit to let everyone regroup
Not really, you have hard group rides, easy group rides, people want different things from group rides - The overriding point is, they are not official races so there will be things like coffee stops, late entry available to users etc. People can ride them however the feel like, but its still a group ride.
I wouldnt expect an A rider to have to ride at a D riders pace as someone wants a fence on on such a big ride with many participants.
I hate those rides (ie ride with the pros) where everybody has to do 1.5-2wkg. So please do not destroy the tdw with this idea.
Just like IRL, I join group rides regularly or friendly cycling events, but I will ride hard. Because for me fun is fast.
If there is an event with a fence, yes it is good manners to stay around the race leader. But not within tour de watopia
Just to be clear, and no offense, but what I find despicable is using a coffee break when you are racing. Those who ride within the top 20% of a ToW or ToZ stage are racing, and they certainly know they are, this is a fact. And those I saw using coffee breaks did it to save their legs and then launch attacks from the group (which is not, by definition, “group riding”). My two euros 
and the Tow is NOT A RACE, how many times does it have to be said? You can race it by all means but don’t moan when people use the coffee stop
That’s just good tactics - same as intelligent use of Power ups like Draft and Aero. Arguably, the Coffee Break is more equitable as everyone gets the same without the random allocation of PUs.
Stephane - you’re absolutely right, just some people here clearly choose to overlook that! And it’s the principle of use really rather than is it a group ride or not. If you choose to race the group rides, like a lot of people do, then it’s bad sportsmanship to abuse the coffee stop to get a rest then attack
Disable them completely if you ask me! I don’t seem to remember anyone asking for them before they were introduced!
The difference with a coffee stop is you don’t have to do a thing - even with a draft or feather, you still have to ride and ride accordingly to the PU. The coffee stop is just a rest! If everyone agreed to use it as a PU, that’s fine - but sort of defeats the object of pushing yourself if you ask me.
Rich, again no offense, but I guess what I am saying is just: if you have decided to race a ToW stage, then do not use coffee stops, if you are just along for the ride and a good chat, by all, means, use them ;-).
You do not have to use it if you do not want to, if you want no coffee stops go find a RACE not a group ride as it has been said so many times, I am struggling to find why this so hard to accept, if you want to push yourself in a group ride like the ToW then fine that’s your choice but do not moan and complain when people use a coffee stop
Race the group rides all you want but don’t moan when someone uses a coffee stop because its available
Fixed that for you.
Nah, you both missed my point. ToW and ToZ stages can be really fun races. Maybe the funniest of all as there are huge groups. You are free to race them as much as you are free not to. But if you race them, and believe me, if you do, you know you do, then it boils down to sportsmanship. If you race, then race, if you are simply doing a group ride, then enjoy it. But if you decide to try and hang out with the boys, then behave. Have some dignity. Do not take the fun out of the race. Do not spare your legs when everyone is gasping for air and hanging our for dear life on a climb (my idea of fun), only to attack at the bottom of the descent. This is pathetic. But if you are here to chill and enjoy the ride, I have not qualms whatsoever with you taking a coffee break.
Bart Simpson school chalk board “group rides are not races” .gif 
you are missing the point in that they are NOT races so no matter what happens in those “races” it is all fair game, as I said if you want to race go race in a real race where the coffee stop is not an option.
You are free to race/have a hard workout in the group rides so if you want to do that then by all means crack on, there seems to be some issue though when those who want to take the allowed coffee stop, and they are allowed in group rides btw. Hang out with the boys? never laughed so hard in my life at that sentence