7/19/10 8:47 AM

NM

Last edited by Sparky on 7/19/10 9:15 AM; edited 3 times in total

7/19/10 8:54 AM

not the way to win the TdF.

7/19/10 8:58 AM

Where's your spoiler guys!

Sandiway

7/19/10 9:02 AM

That said: Andy needed to be more assertive and ignore the fact that he was wearing the Yellow. If he could have, he should have been attacking Contador. Question is, could he have I guess...


Attacking while you min competitor is off his bike, nice.

I won't be watching the Jersey ceremony today.

Last edited by Sparky on 7/19/10 9:06 AM; edited 1 time in total

7/19/10 9:03 AM

So what was Contador supposed to do, sit up and wait for him because Schleck dropped his chain when attacking Contador??

Like the guy who gets punched then renders first-aid to the puncher's sore hand? Not likely.

It is expected that if the race leader has a mechanical (when NOT attacking), that his rivals will wait, a la Ullrich when Armstrong got pulled down accidently by a spectator several years ago, but as soon as you turn a pedal "in anger" attacking your rivals, the you will get whatever comes your way.

You attack, you have started the fight, so take the consequences.

7/19/10 9:04 AM

Schleck was lucky to stay on the bike, when his chain came off, the rear end skipped up, meaning the rear wheel momentarily locked up.

Sandiway

7/19/10 9:07 AM

BTW, the video is fabulous on the descent... totally awesome coverage...

Sandiway

7/19/10 9:08 AM

While Contador was ON his bike I would add. He should have been attacking then.

But to sprint up the climb attacking when AS was actually off the bike is another story.

I know it is racing, and should not expect more from AC, who am I kidding....


Let's hope the Yellow is equally heavy for AC.


"lucky to stay on the bike"

Pressing hard up hill and having the opposing force disappear suddenly, he is lucky he did not go over the bar endo style for sure...

7/19/10 9:12 AM

Schleck so unlucky!!!

It was a great attack too... had possibilities... possibly the most exciting stage I've seen for a long while...

Sandiway

7/19/10 9:18 AM

I am going for a ride [an angry one ;)], back later....



I think the white jersey was making for a paler shade of yellow maybe...

Last edited by Sparky on 7/19/10 11:11 AM; edited 1 time in total

7/19/10 9:29 AM

Schleck was only 12 seconds back at the top of the climb, but lost a bunch on the descent despite going all out.

This goes to show one needs help even on the fast descents and flattish sections. Cruel fate, Schleck had no help from VDB and of course not from Vino.

Sandiway

7/19/10 9:31 AM

Can't wait for the Tourmalot.

This wasn't pretty, but what was Contador to do with Menchov and Sanchez on his tail only 2 minutes back?

7/19/10 9:55 AM

IMHO , Contador took an opportunity and missed one to make a classy move.

It takes 30 seconds for Schleck to get restarted.
The stage is effectively neutralized by the mechanical. Contador is in the drivers seat anyway for the overall at that point. So he can wait the 30s, and chase back
Menchov with Schleck together.

Since Contador waited for schleck, it'd be bad form for schleck to attack him again on this stage- so it's neutralized. Together they'd wouldn't have lost much time to menchov.

Plus when Contador wins the tour, he'd go down as a class act.

7/19/10 10:02 AM

If you're going to blame Contador you've got to blame Menchov and Sanchez as well. I suppose he could have tried to have been the "boss" and asked them not to ride, but once they came up to him and were riding he had no choice but to ride too or at least follow them.

Any who, Schleck would have already have lost minutes if the bunch hadn't sat up for him on the way into Spa (?), and he needs at least a minute if not 2 or 3 minutes going into the final TT. So, it's not like this time is likely to matter anyway.

7/19/10 10:03 AM

well, he was responding to AS's attack.

if you look at the video, it looks like AC attacked around AS.

but watch closely a few secs before, AC was 5-10 yards behind up out of the saddle jumping (in response to AS's attack) before AS dropped his chain.

one can make the argument that AS started it, it's his bum luck that his chain dropped during his attack. AC was doing his attack already.

personally, i think honour should prevail and AC should have soft-pedaled until AS got back on. and should have prevailed on the others to do likewise.

in the post race interview, AC said he didnt know that AS had a problem, which i think is BS...he rode right by him when AS jammed his chain and was looking down monkeying with it.

on the lighter side how about SRAM's "leaping" chain setup?! poor andy...

<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_urSQl6wUA5g/SE9vQVj-SqI/AAAAAAAACOg/paBDeMwy-Z0/s400/2323_1.JPG">

7/19/10 10:09 AM

they are both on Red.

7/19/10 10:53 AM

I am not a fan of Contador by any means and I haven't seen the stage to now for sure what happened with the dropped chain.

Is it possible it was a mis-shift by Andy that caused the issue? If so how could you expect Contador to wait when other GC contenders are going up the road. Could it have been a poor maintenance job by the Saxo mechanic? If so again how is that Contador's fault or gives reason for him to wait? If any member of the "team" (and that includes the DS, mechanics, etc) make mistakes that is something they have to deal with.

If you crash because someone crashes in front of you that's one thing but there has to be a line.

7/19/10 11:00 AM

and waited, but that would have given 30 secs to Menchov & Sanchez.

Look at the video from Eurosport. http://www.steephill.tv/players/eurosport/v1/?title=Andy%20Schleck%20drops%20his%20chain%20at%20a%20key%20moment%20-%20Tour%20de%20France%202010&id=20948447

It was not like Schleck had just started the attack, he had a good 10 metres and Contador was responding. Yes, he had to go around Schleck, but if you take a swing at someone, they will punch you back, and hard.

They are pro's, not pussies.

After listening to Schleck about the slippery road into Spa, then that cobbles have no place in the TdF, he comes across as having a prima-donna attitude and doesn't like it when he gets a bloody nose.

He will have to fight a bit harder in the next few days if he wants the jersey back.

7/19/10 11:26 AM

quote:

---

It takes 30 seconds for Schleck to get restarted

---

7/19/10 12:04 PM

Oops, I pressed the wrong button. Should have pressed "No."

Contador could easily have held back his attack to enable Schleck to hitch back on to the group. Then attack as soon as Schleck made his way near the front of the peloton. The result might have been much the same for Contador (but a smaller gap), with Andy burning matches to hitch back on.

And what exactly is the problem with SRAM and chains (remember Cancellara)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcN2HrkrnF4

7/19/10 12:10 PM

Presumably a translation, since the interview was with French TV.

quote:

---

"Shit happens, what can I say. He went full gas when he saw that I had a mechanical," said Schleck. "It's not up to me to decide but I would not have attacked the yellow jersey. I would not attack the race leader like that. If he would have dropped me it wouldn't have been a problem for me, but not this way.
"I guess we all have different cultures. Personally I wouldn't ride like that. My stomach is full of anger. I'm going to take my revenge on the Tourmalet."

---

7/19/10 12:26 PM

Riis: It's Andy's fault

Tour-drama - It's every cyclist damned duty to check his equipment, says furious Bjarne Riis after today's Tour drama.

See http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fekstrabladet.dk%2Fsport%2Fcykling%2Farticle1379238.ece&sl=da&tl=en

Would have been interesting to be in the Saxo Bank team bus as a "fly on the wall" this afternoon:-)

7/19/10 12:45 PM

BS!

Riis knows who to blame, AS should just get on and ride, the bike should be perfect when he gets on it. They pay people for that. Wrenches pride themselves on making the bikes perfect and will go to great lengths to ensure they are. They are the ones who invented the chain watchers and such to make sure this does not happen. How was AS to know that under a load, during his hardest attack of the TDF the friggen chain was gonna drop inside? Odds are it was because of frame flex in the stays, I had a cannodale that would drop a chain if I was in the lowest gear (biggest rear cog) and the little ring if I stood and hammered with all my might.

The wrench is to blame, not AS. I can't understand Riis blaming AS for it, no way.

7/19/10 12:56 PM

Here's an example of a Riis bike inspection:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFzteK_y1b4

7/19/10 12:58 PM

I can totally understand Riis blaming Shleck. He's not going to blame his sponsor's equipment, not when he is struggling to keep his team together. He's not going to blame his staff, so as not to look amateurish for potential sponsors. So, just drop the blame on the guy with one foot out the door.