More than two of the three weeks of this Tour lie in the rearview mirror and the race is impossible to call; nearly every GC Contender has shown some kind of weakness or given something away that makes them look beatable. Contador was dropped on the first uphill finish. The Schlecks have been on the attack but have been unable to make the gains they need to insure a final victory. They’ve also reminded us that what goes up doesn’t always come down as easily. Evans has been the most consistent and oportunistic, but has been racing hard since day one and, while he’s been close, he’s done little to stamp his authority on the race. Voekler has been defying the odds for nine days and continues to hang on to a lead which looks more tenable with each passing day.
So far, the “minor” mountain stages – those without uphill finishes – have proven to be as decisive as those with uphill finishes. Normally reserved for the opportunist breakaway and a non-issue for the GC riders, Stage 17’s rain-slicked descent saw some of the best racing we’ve seen this year buddied up with the biggest impact on the GC since Tommy V took the Maillot Jaune.
Indeed, this year has everyone sitting around the table, questioning the accepted tactics of the recent past. The riders who go fast uphill will need to do something more than just attack a few k’s from the finish. Perhaps they are considering an Hinaultesque attack on a descent before the finishing climb. Or perhaps a Merckxian attack on the first pass, going long to take a huge advantage.
One thing is for certain: the rider who wins this Tour will not necessarily be the strongest one, for we’ve seen they are all closely matched. No, the winner will be the one who decides the old rulebook is better suited for toilet paper than a race manual. The winner will be the one who thinks creatively, leaves caution in the parking lot where Voekler punched his ticket today, and takes an extra dose of Rule #5 (I’m looking at you, Andy).
At this point, whomever rolls into Paris with the Yellow jersey on their shoulders will get the nod of approval from this guy. (Except Contador, obvs.) Vive le Tour, bitches.
Get your picks in by 5am Pacific tomorrow morning for the chance to win 3, 2, or 1 points for the podium spots, and 1 point for 4th and 5th places. Good luck.
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And Frank Schleck looking PRO in his cycling cap! Boom!
Mikael - I meant Cadel. I was suffering from overexcitement due to Tracker Titillation!
scaler...very, very good idea. It fucking kills me. Damn dude, you've seen this show fifteen times! And you haven't don't anything today but get up, watch t.v., go to work, eat takeout, and now watch four more hours of t.v. Go for a walk or something!
I think I'm sadly becoming aware of how many Americans do nothing outside of work except watch t.v., play with their phone, and eat life-strangling take out food. It makes me sad, but also pisses me off. When I'm working hard it pushes me that much more to do something awesome and fun each day, like ride my bike or get outside or play some soccer.
And along these lines, some days I feel sleepy or not so good, yet I exercise, eat well, don't smoke, don't drink soft drinks. Yet I look around and I see people smoking all day, drinking soda all day, not exercising. What the fuck must they feel like?! What must their insides look like?
I'm beginning to think that if cocaine was the scourge of the 90s, fast food and soda are the scourge of the 2kTeens. (I'm of course not the first to notice the obesity problem but I just can't believe what people put into their bodies on a daily basis. It's fucking shocking and disgusting.)
@Ron
I've worked in medicine for 22 years. It used to be that 80 kilo 8 year olds were rare. Now, almost the norm. In the OR we have equipment that is 'oversized' and gets used everyday. Had a 220K patient a couple days ago.
Shameless self promotion: http://www.mightywombat.com/readblather.php?id=54 (I'm nurse jack).
And now back to Le Tour!
Appropriate news today from India:
Epic stage! Great ride by Andy and although he faded badly he timed his ride perfectly. Critics answered. I'm wondering if the Brothers agreed to work to get Andy the Galibier and Frank the overall. Shitty move from Frank to sit on all the way and jump at the line but that's his call.
@Blah
Really? Cuddles put in a ride like that, showing all that driVe, towing the field, blowing up the race, cracking Bertie and you have to pull out the old wheelsucker call. He's been a top 10 TT rider his whole career. He rides wheels on big stages, to survive, like everyone. It's not ironman. Cadel was a total stud today.
I still can't work out if Basso is surviving or holding back. Today might have played out perfectly for him. Tomorrow or nothing...
Tommy deserves his props but the thread must snap soon. The ITT will be his undoing now.
That photo is awesome but the shitty thing is that the leopard died and the guy he chomped didn't. Goddamn, that must have been insane. I know what it feels like to repel my 8 lbs. cat when it goes bonkers and attacks my legs.
Andy Shleck, I take it all back! That was an incredible exploit to break away on the Izoard and hold it to the top of the Mighty Galibier. Oddly sad to see Contador crack. Another gutsy ride by TV to hang onto Maillot Jaune also, but my bet it will be Evans wearing the final Yellow Jersey in Paris...
@harminator
I think you misinterpreted the statement entirely. @Blah is saying the GC were wheelsucking Evans. Basso didn't do a single turn at the front, was he that much on the rivet?
Well...will we race on the Champs for yellow? Really?
@Collin
Yes, but suggesting that Cadel is getting payback for wheelsucking other GC riders in the past.