OT - Tour de France stage 16
Wow! Some unexpected fireworks today. Cadel Evans now looks like a solid favorite, given his time-trial abilities. Good to see him attack. He might win the Tour just by wheel-sucking on the favorites until the TT, but a winner should go out and get it on the stages.
Contador showed he's still got some of his legs. I'm not a big fan of his, but the race is more fun when he attacks. He's going to have to stay aggressive to get those two minutes back from Evans. He's definitely looking better, but I feel like the Contador of last year would have beaten Evans to the line today.
As for Andy Schleck . . . what's the deal? Is he just not in form this year? I thought he was racing conservatively earlier, but now you have to wonder. I kept waiting for him to shift gears and take over, and it didn't happen.
Voeckler turned in another solid stage, but the one guy he couldn't afford to lose time to (Evans) got about 20 seconds on him. He really can't lose any more to him. A month ago, at the Dauphiné, the two raced the same time trial at Grenoble that the TdF is using, and Evans edged him by 1'58". Evans is now within 1'45". Of course, wearing the maillot jaune just might give Voeckler something extra in the tank . . . well, he's got to get through the Alps first.
And Thor Hushovd is just plain awesome.
Should be a great third week.
I was actually impressed. It wasn't that bad to lose 20-some seconds. Hope he can hang on to the maillot jaune.
Apparently there will be some substantial snow fall in the Alps. Anything is possible.
Evans looked incredible; marking all of Contador's attacks and shining on the descent. Schleck's are trying to stick together, meaning that whoever is having the worse day of the two ends up torpedoeing the other. This may end up costing both of them a podium spot. A far cry from the 1-2 combo that they were talking about pre-tour.
I gotta say, Contador has handled all of his poor luck with class. I really disliked him coming into this tour, but he has stayed quiet, humble, and he isn't pointing any fingers. I understand that he has suffered a lot of self-inflicted wounds, but I think he has had quite a bit of plain bad luck mixed in.
Voeckler will go down, but nobody will be letting him into any breakaways from here on out. Dude has made a name for himself. Also: I think Europcar's team Colnago's are the sexiest bikes in the tour.
Tomorrow will be much like today with a hard climb followed by a tricky descent. I expect some more attacks on the final climb, maybe from Sanchez, I wonder who would get on his wheel. Then 2 days with hard mountain top finishes. If Andy Schleck has anything in him he will have to attack hard in these stages, he needs the time before the TT.
First, Thor is awesome. I saw a quote today that labeled this race the 'Thor de France'. Great ride by Ryder, also. He had a tremendous day.
Second, today was a very exciting stage. Fun to watch. This seems like Cadel's tour to lose now. He could win it just by riding defensively, now. I don't recommend that, but he could. I don't see Voeckler hanging on the next three stages. Contador looked to have a little of that acceleration that has made him so great, today. Should be interesting to see him work the next few days, because he still has to go on a major offensive, being just under 2 minutes down to Cadel. Also, great attack by Cadel on the descent.
Lastly, the Schleck's are known to be sissies (with all due respect) when it comes to racing in tough weather. Particularly Andy, and it showed today. They also are not good descenders by any stretch, and Thor and Cadel have shown how important descending can be in the Tour. This could be a great few days coming up. Unfortunately, I will be up on Torch Lake for the Alpe on Friday, and will likely miss the rest of the Tour. Small price to pay to spend some quality time on the Torch Lake Sandbar.
After reading the whining that Andy Schleck did after the race I have lost all respect. He does realize that going down a mountain does occur in bike racing. I'm guessing that Cancellara will get a lashing tonight because he didn't get in front and tell everyone to slow down because poor Andy doesn't like going down mountains.
Anyways, it looks like Contador has found his legs and it will be an awesome week. I don't know if he can bring back Evans with the way he's looked but it should be fun. I would love to see him do it after losing time early. The Schlecks will regret not finishing him last week when he was strugging. Right now I think Evans will win w/ Contador in 2nd and Sanchez/Voeckler in 3rd.
Whatever happens the rest of the week should be fun to watch!
A year ago, I was under the impression that Andy Schleck was a classy guy who could handle a little misfortune with dignity. Whoops. After every stage he's got some gripe. The course wasn't designed exclusively to suit you, pal.
And let's examine exactly what he was so classy about last year, shall we? This is not an attack on you, btw, I am just still upset about the kid gloves treatment Andy gets.
1. He threw his chain changing gears on a climb (something only rookies do) and got upset because AC rightly passed him. Then he bad mouths AC for not slowing down for him. What? If you have technical difficulties or a spectator takes you down, yes, you should be given some consideration. If you don't know how to work your bike, you get NO consideration.
2. My favorite part of the whole thing is that when Contador had a legitimate technical issue in the first week of the race, his tires were rubbing against the frame on the cobblestones (I believe), the Shlecks took full advantage of his position and gave no consideration to the defending champion. Total hypocrites in my opinion.
I might change my opinion if they sack it up in the Alps and take control of the race but I doubt it even then.
Re #1: Since chaingate people are realizing he is an idiot when it comes to properly shifting. He has done it several times since then, even with di2 (electric shifting). It has a computer to prevent chain suck and skipping!!!
Re #2: Contador, Lance, and Chavanel (the MJ at the time) were all caught behind the crash that took out Fränk. Andy and Cancellara were in the group that didn't crash and were Cancellara was the one who was really pushing the pace. Then in chaingate Andy complains you don't attack the yellow.... really Andy?
I'm a Contador diehard so that should sum up my feelings on him. The rider I've really been impressed with is Cadel. He is ALWAYS where he has to be. Certainly a lot of experience, but I think also that's just a big strength of his. He's also much much less of a head case than he use to be. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look up his outbursts from the 2008 tour. Hilarious.
Ha! I had forgotten about the "Don't touch me!!" moment . . . anger management, much? Doesn't matter, if it isn't Contador I will root for Cadel or Tommy V.
Cancellara slowing down the whole field after Andy crashed last year still ticks me off to no end. Why didn't he slow the field down when most of the field crashed in the 1st stage this year (Contador lost over a minute). Schleck is too talented to make excuses everytime something goes wrong.
The Schleck boys have been so worried about Contador that they've forgotten that their are other great riders that can win as well and Evans and Voeckler have taken full advantage. I can't believe the ride that Voeckler is doing this year.
The 2 brothers have got to decide who's in charge and just go for it. When Andy attacks and immediately looks back to see if Frank's coming is not gonna work. I realize they both want to make the podium with 1 winning but neither might not make it this year. If they don't they will regret it. Contador dominated the Giro (which obviously took a lot out of him) and he's now right there with a chance to win the TdF. Amazing!
I really hope this is the end for the Shleck brothers . . . they talk a whole bunch for not having accomplished much (in the grand scheme of things).
.. he's shown maturity and poise. Also I like Ivan Basso, the guy always hangs around the top. I remember him being a shadow of Armstrong throughout the tour.
Andy is a prima donna. A spoilt kid who has let success get to his head.
This. Frank shouldn't catch a bad wrap because Andy is a pansy. Frank is a pretty classy guy and up front, and rarely makes excuses. Just see yesterday for example, where he gave credit to AC for taking advantage of their inability to descend in bad weather. Frank is a good guy. I hope he hangs on to the podium or surprises.
are not necessarily out but it's not looking like it's their year. I think they both attacked so much that they couldn't respond when the other big guys did it too. I think Cadel looks great in his ability to respond every time. I also like his ability to get downhill faster than the others (much faster with respect to Andy and Frank). And I think he can come through on the TT this year... he's not had success in his past attempts to take over yellow on the last TT. I do think he will attack in the coming days and if it sticks, he will pick up some major time. Unless Contador can drop everyone, I do not see Cadel getting passed for the yellow. He's in prime position and his team is doing a great job to keep him in strong contention. It's definitely been exciting thus far and I expect it to get even better tomorrow and Friday... maybe today too! Watching it now!