SSP

I wouldn't call AC a "loser". He really is a champion, and a great cyclist.

But his attack yesterday will forever be a black mark on his career. A few seconds of respect for the yellow jersey could have added to his palmares and his reputation within the peloton.

Bacciagalupe

Are you actually suggesting that someone should have helped AC on the descent?!?

None of his competitors would've helped him descend, under any circumstances. AS lost time on the descent because he isn't as good a descender, period. If you can isolate the MJ and exploit a weakness, you do it.

And bike racing isn't just about who is "stronger." It's about who is smarter, who can motivate a team better, who can allocate resources over 3 weeks of racing.

What's next? Schleck gets a handicap on the TT? Maybe if Contador attacks and Schleck falls behind, Contador should sit up and help Andy on the climb? WTF. Is this a race or an after-school special?

Keith99

Has anyone paid attention to the evening coverage on vrs? I did because I was on here and was aware of what was going to happen. When AS dropped his chain Bob Roll initially thought he had given up on the attack. Only for a split second, but the words were out of his mouth at just about the same time AC passes AS.

Same coverage shows AC working/attacking on the climb afterwards, but never on the decent until the last 200 meters.

USAZorro

And after initially saying Andy messed up a shift and having no problem that the other riders were continuing the attack, Bobke changed his tune 180 degrees. Sheesh.

Greg_R

+1. Vino had no problem recognizing the problem and sitting down & AC had a clear line of sight to AS the entire time. Can we please dispense with the "didn't see it" arguments? AC saw an opportunity and took it, plain and simple.

USAZorro

Having caught Schleck, Vino had no reason to overextend himself.

whitemax

[QUOTE=Bacciagalupe;11144430]

If AC can isolate the MJ and exploit a mechanical, he does it.

Fixed

QUOTE]

gsteinb

This has to be the most over analyzed 5 seconds in the history of the sport.

SSP

No.

I was just pointing out to AnthonyG that AC gained additional time on the descent, because he had a group that was working with him. AS did not. That's all.

dsh

Contador got time on AS because he was following Sanchez down the mountain. AC would not have gained that time on his own.

SSP

I see it as part of the appeal of the sport.

Those 5 seconds will be debated in bars and bike shops for the next 20 years.

gsteinb

I kind of doubt it. In the end Contador is going to win by minutes. It's irrelevant. Schleck needed at least 2 minutes going into the TT and that was never going to happen. What this is something to pass the time during what's largely another in a string of uneventful tours.

Bacciagalupe

If they had hit the summit together, Schleck would still have lost some time, no matter who was with them. The only way Contador wouldn't have made back time is if he and Andy struck a truce... like they did on stage 9:

" “I was scared because when I came to see the roads (in reconnaissance), it was raining, and I had that memory in mind,” Schleck said. “I was afraid of that descent, and I told Alberto, ‘if you want to take risks, OK, but I won’t.’ It’s better to lose 10 seconds than to leave the race in an ambulance. Besides, I know my mother is watching the race, and during the descents she paces back and forth into the kitchen. So I told (Saxo Bank team manager Bjarne Riis) to call my mother and tell her I wouldn’t take any risks.” "

He's probably exaggerating for effect, but let's face it: Contador is a better descender that Schleck. They both know it. Riis knows it. The peloton knows it. Andy's Mom knows it. Why don't you?

DiabloScott

Andy says "STFU you haters". (GH is Gerard Holtz, the interviewer)
Both these guys are too classy for this nonsense to continue.

GH: Can you also tell those members of the public who have been jeering Alberto that they should stop because once again today there was a scene that was disrespectful of all those who love cycling…
AS: Yes, er…
GH: Can you say it directly into that camera?
AS (looking directly into the camera): Everyone stop that! Do it for me.
GH: That’s good to hear because I think it is right to respect the yellow jersey and also to respect great champions.
AC: I just want to say many, many thanks for that my friend.
GH: Thank you to both of you champions.

Laggard

Shleck said that AC appologized to him and that "we're good again."

Shows over. All is well.

Time to move on to more important things.

dsh

And Fabian Cancellara is better at individual TT's than just about anyone, and yet he doesn't win all the flat stages in the TdF...

Being in a group counts for a lot. I believe pretty strongly that if Schleck had been in the group with AC and Sanchez at the top, he'd have been in the group at the bottom.

That's what I meant.

If AC hadn't had Sanchez to follow, he might have gained 15 seconds instead of 25.

USAZorro

You watched stage 3, right?

I'm through with this now.

dsh

Sure did, don't remember any long descents in that one though.

USAZorro

cfblakeman

Thank you for your lucid and kind response. It really encourages people to have a good give and take discussion.

When people don't have arguments, they make personal attacks. FYI - trolls have hair, I'm bald.

calamarichris

+1

cfblakeman

Appreciate this comment. I thought the "troll" response was about as immature and amateurish as possible, and not the least bit welcoming to a new member. And the fact that the administrators are suspicious of me instead of the guy calling people trolls is quite revealing about how much this forum wants new members. You won't see me around here after this post fades, and I'll make sure I steer others in a different direction as well.

cfblakeman

Checking on a newbie is entirely valid. Calling them trolls as a way to say hello, and allowing that to stand, then expressing suspicion of the newbie instead of the troll-caller, well, that's just bad customer service.

USAZorro

Starting an inflammatory thread with your very first post to the Forum, and then disappearing for a week. I guess you're right. You bear no responsibility for the expressed opinions of others in response. It's entirely my fault.

cfblakeman

Hmmm... cfblakeman is the name my mother gave me and I've been using for as long as I can remember. It's the name I use when I ride up a hill and when I sit and watch TDF and when I eat BBQ with my neighbors, when I send emails, and on a couple dozen other boards.

Just curious how you would have divined that cfblakeman is someone's fake fake internet persona.