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In an ideal sporting world referees play no role in the outcome. Only the combatants decide the result. Ideally, we also have great fan access to their idols and the rigor of the event settles the winner, not luck, or quirky judgment calls by officials or any factor other than who is the best. Today the Col du Tourmalet provided an almost perfect sporting forum. After three categorized climbs and 174 kilometers of racing, the final “out of category” pull up the Tourmalet in the drizzle and the fog left no doubt as to whom the strongmen are in this race. Schleck put on a marvelous show; he accelerated (he says he attacked 15 times) like he had a motor in his bottom bracket (just a joke!) and cruelly decimated the entire peloton, leaving nothing but burning legs and broken spirits in his wake. Except for Alberto Contador. El Pistolero matched Schleck stroke for stroke and never wavered. Contador even attacked Schleck once, but the attack was matched. It was interesting to me as Schleck pulled alongside Contador, after reeling in his staccato attack and only the two of them remained; Schleck slowly turned his head and stared at Contador, almost as if to say “How can you do this with me?” Receiving no answer, he then turned back to the road and rode to victory.
The victory was conceded by Contador. He was tucked into Schleck’s rear wheel almost the entire way up the mountain and it was a sign of respect that he didn’t push Schleck harder at the line. Even so, my impression is that Contador might have done more, he might have even dropped Schleck on this climb, at the end, if he felt he had to do so. Instead, I think he realized he can do whatever he needs to do in the ITT on Saturday, so he was gracious and allowed an uncontested Saxobank victory. Thus, barring a major surprise or injury, the top two steps on the podium will be taken by the same two in the same order as last year. I do not think Andy is another Ullrich or Poulidor, however, destined to be a second banana to some other rider. I think his time is coming. But we are looking at the potential for a decade of superb racing by these two guys, both of whom are young. Right now no one else can match them.
Would Frank Schleck have made a difference? Possibly, but I doubt it. Contador is just in his own world. Bruyneel has said he has never seen a rider that could accelerate the way Contador can in the steep mountains. After today, it is clear that Contador rides like no other out there except for Schleck. This is one of the reasons I love this sport in general and the grand tours in particular. There are no flops. There are no judgment calls that end up making the difference (I suppose Mark Renshaw might quibble, but neither he nor Cavendish were ever going to end up in yellow). After three weeks of racing, after one or more ITTs and several long days in the mountains, only the strong win this race. Only the deserving pull on Yellow in Paris. There is no fluke victory. If you are in Yellow, you earned it. (One can’t say the same for the polka dot jersey, eh? How many times has the wearer of the KOM jersey been spit out the back before the final climb even starts? Embarrassing.).
As RC noted in another thread, the big American victory today was getting Chris Horner, a nice guy and great bike rider, into the top ten. He is a lifer who has come on strong the last few years. And he deserves it. It is my pet theory that he has done better late in his career because he has always raced clean and as the peloton has cleaned up, his performance has looked relatively better. I could be way off on this, however.
Levi Leipheimer rode himself out of the tope ten and has made it all but impossible for him to get back there in the ITT. Even so, Levi did a nice job this year. But he is simply too old and, quite honestly, doesn’t have the strength left to win a grand tour. Still a great rider and a good guy.
Sami Sanchez showed true grit and determination today. After taking a hard fall he got back on and rode into it far enough to hang on to his podium spot, finishing fifth on the day. That podium spot is in peril, however, as Sanchez only has 20 or so seconds on Menchov who, in the past, has put together some great ITTs. Interestingly, however, on the opening prologue, Sanchez and Menchov both finished 56 seconds behind Spartacus. Even so, the great length and more technical nature of the ITT on Saturday would help Menchov put time into Sanchez. At this point, I think it will be close but my money is on Menchov.
The crowds on the road today were crazy. All those people either had to camp on the mountain starting three days ago (the road up has been closed for two days) or they had to walk or ride a bike up. There were thousands of them. It was a suffocating environment. At one point a guy waving a flag bumped into Schleck and he slapped the fool. I am always surprised this doesn’t happen more often. I am also surprised so many of those guys are willing to show their buttocks and wear Speedos and thongs. Who wants them to do this? Are these people orphans that live alone? For the love of mick, can’t SOMEONE tell them they look ridiculous before the leave the house? This does not apply to Didi Senft who, I can only surmise, must have angered the French Television directors at some point because he got less air time than the idiot in yellow leotard and body paint wearing a black thong with the number 8 and the name Armstrong painted on his back and, really, who wants to see that? More didi, less fat guys in tights.
Speaking of surviving, Bert Grabsch moved to consolidate his grip on the lanterne rouge (this is the honorary award to the person who finishes last) today, adding another minute or so to his leading deficit. He is now a staggering 4 hours and 26 minutes behind Contador but, more importantly, a slim 3 minutes 42 seconds behind the closest rider. Bert can time trial pretty well, but my money says he hangs on to it.
This stage truly was something to behold. The weather was nasty, the crowds were huge, and as the riders attacked the Tourmalet, it gave up nothing with ease. Eventually the riders were strung out like the rubber band that Phil and Paul keep talking about. Look at the finishing times; there really was no peloton. You didn’t have three riders finish with the same time until over 40 had passed the line. Even then they dribbled up the hill in small groups or alone. After the top ten or so, the stage was less a race than a crucible for the weary. After completing this ride, under these conditions, and enduring the pain and difficulty, each of these riders can celebrate in Paris. (I imagine that in a few days we will see our own group of Cuffers conquering their on Col du Bend. I hope someone will share their stories of victory as well.)
Finally, a word about Lance: Old.
He said it himself; when asked what he wanted he said he wanted to be younger and stronger. My guess is that Lance rode this year for himself. He has said that he thought he could still podium and he even hoped for victory number 8. But it was not to be. Now he has incontrovertible proof that his career as a champion is finished. He can go into that night knowing there is nothing that he left behind unfinished. Oddly, Lance made the Drudge report today. Drudge wanted us to know that Lance had hired a criminal attorney to represent him in the federal investigation. This is reported as though it were a criminal acting and of itself. Hardly. We would all want an attorney under those circumstances. But it makes me wonder if his legacy will be as the most prominent link between cycling and drugs, instead of as America’s greatest grand tour rider ever. Time will tell.
Sorry this is such a ramble. But it is a lot cheaper than therapy and believe me, no one at my house will listen to this crap.
The victory was conceded by Contador. He was tucked into Schleck’s rear wheel almost the entire way up the mountain and it was a sign of respect that he didn’t push Schleck harder at the line. Even so, my impression is that Contador might have done more, he might have even dropped Schleck on this climb, at the end, if he felt he had to do so. Instead, I think he realized he can do whatever he needs to do in the ITT on Saturday, so he was gracious and allowed an uncontested Saxobank victory. Thus, barring a major surprise or injury, the top two steps on the podium will be taken by the same two in the same order as last year. I do not think Andy is another Ullrich or Poulidor, however, destined to be a second banana to some other rider. I think his time is coming. But we are looking at the potential for a decade of superb racing by these two guys, both of whom are young. Right now no one else can match them.
Would Frank Schleck have made a difference? Possibly, but I doubt it. Contador is just in his own world. Bruyneel has said he has never seen a rider that could accelerate the way Contador can in the steep mountains. After today, it is clear that Contador rides like no other out there except for Schleck. This is one of the reasons I love this sport in general and the grand tours in particular. There are no flops. There are no judgment calls that end up making the difference (I suppose Mark Renshaw might quibble, but neither he nor Cavendish were ever going to end up in yellow). After three weeks of racing, after one or more ITTs and several long days in the mountains, only the strong win this race. Only the deserving pull on Yellow in Paris. There is no fluke victory. If you are in Yellow, you earned it. (One can’t say the same for the polka dot jersey, eh? How many times has the wearer of the KOM jersey been spit out the back before the final climb even starts? Embarrassing.).
As RC noted in another thread, the big American victory today was getting Chris Horner, a nice guy and great bike rider, into the top ten. He is a lifer who has come on strong the last few years. And he deserves it. It is my pet theory that he has done better late in his career because he has always raced clean and as the peloton has cleaned up, his performance has looked relatively better. I could be way off on this, however.
Levi Leipheimer rode himself out of the tope ten and has made it all but impossible for him to get back there in the ITT. Even so, Levi did a nice job this year. But he is simply too old and, quite honestly, doesn’t have the strength left to win a grand tour. Still a great rider and a good guy.
Sami Sanchez showed true grit and determination today. After taking a hard fall he got back on and rode into it far enough to hang on to his podium spot, finishing fifth on the day. That podium spot is in peril, however, as Sanchez only has 20 or so seconds on Menchov who, in the past, has put together some great ITTs. Interestingly, however, on the opening prologue, Sanchez and Menchov both finished 56 seconds behind Spartacus. Even so, the great length and more technical nature of the ITT on Saturday would help Menchov put time into Sanchez. At this point, I think it will be close but my money is on Menchov.
The crowds on the road today were crazy. All those people either had to camp on the mountain starting three days ago (the road up has been closed for two days) or they had to walk or ride a bike up. There were thousands of them. It was a suffocating environment. At one point a guy waving a flag bumped into Schleck and he slapped the fool. I am always surprised this doesn’t happen more often. I am also surprised so many of those guys are willing to show their buttocks and wear Speedos and thongs. Who wants them to do this? Are these people orphans that live alone? For the love of mick, can’t SOMEONE tell them they look ridiculous before the leave the house? This does not apply to Didi Senft who, I can only surmise, must have angered the French Television directors at some point because he got less air time than the idiot in yellow leotard and body paint wearing a black thong with the number 8 and the name Armstrong painted on his back and, really, who wants to see that? More didi, less fat guys in tights.
Speaking of surviving, Bert Grabsch moved to consolidate his grip on the lanterne rouge (this is the honorary award to the person who finishes last) today, adding another minute or so to his leading deficit. He is now a staggering 4 hours and 26 minutes behind Contador but, more importantly, a slim 3 minutes 42 seconds behind the closest rider. Bert can time trial pretty well, but my money says he hangs on to it.
This stage truly was something to behold. The weather was nasty, the crowds were huge, and as the riders attacked the Tourmalet, it gave up nothing with ease. Eventually the riders were strung out like the rubber band that Phil and Paul keep talking about. Look at the finishing times; there really was no peloton. You didn’t have three riders finish with the same time until over 40 had passed the line. Even then they dribbled up the hill in small groups or alone. After the top ten or so, the stage was less a race than a crucible for the weary. After completing this ride, under these conditions, and enduring the pain and difficulty, each of these riders can celebrate in Paris. (I imagine that in a few days we will see our own group of Cuffers conquering their on Col du Bend. I hope someone will share their stories of victory as well.)
Finally, a word about Lance: Old.
He said it himself; when asked what he wanted he said he wanted to be younger and stronger. My guess is that Lance rode this year for himself. He has said that he thought he could still podium and he even hoped for victory number 8. But it was not to be. Now he has incontrovertible proof that his career as a champion is finished. He can go into that night knowing there is nothing that he left behind unfinished. Oddly, Lance made the Drudge report today. Drudge wanted us to know that Lance had hired a criminal attorney to represent him in the federal investigation. This is reported as though it were a criminal acting and of itself. Hardly. We would all want an attorney under those circumstances. But it makes me wonder if his legacy will be as the most prominent link between cycling and drugs, instead of as America’s greatest grand tour rider ever. Time will tell.
Sorry this is such a ramble. But it is a lot cheaper than therapy and believe me, no one at my house will listen to this crap.
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