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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@harminator
Damn. You are correct.
@Marcus
I really don't think Tommy V could have done anything. His body was devastated at the finish line. I think the teammate was up there because he might be able to take the White Jersey.
Awesome ride by Andy today. One for the books. FWIW, I'm getting tired of the "wow, Tommy V still has the yellow jersey?" talk. He won it fair and square and has ridden like a champ to keep it. Sure, his lead has been whittled away, but a podium spot at this point would be no less than he deserves. Also kudos to Tommy Danielson. Still in 9th place and so long as he doesn't implode tomorrow, that looks fairly safe. Tomorrow is brutal but also short - just 68 miles. Who knows what Leopard's tactics will be? Today they were perfect. I still think Andy needs a bit more on Cadel for the TT to feel comfortable, but it's by no means flat. Much more of a roadie tt than a specialist one.
Oh My Merckx, what an amazing stage. What a ride by SchleckA, and then the other GC guys, and Contador's blown, and the GC is getting so damn close. I might need a cold shower to calm down.
Been watching on a one hour delayed broadcast btw. Chris Boardman is one of the commentary team and he rated it as the best stage he'd ever seen.
@Netraam
On the subject of balls, I was beginning to wonder if les Freres Grimpeur had been leaving theirs in their kit bags to save weight but they certainly had them screwed on tight today.
freaking work caused me to miss this.....arrh
Seriously, could someone please tell my velominhottie that I don't spend that much time on the internet. For example, totally missed this VSP.
That was an absolutely amazing stage. I can't decide who was the most impressive of the 3 riders.
Cadel was clearly the most courageous for seeing that nobody was going to help him, and busting his ass all the way up the climb to bring back Schleck. Except that Schleck was even more courageous for going from 60k out and stamping his authority on the race. Except that Voeckler was the most courageous for even being there at all. In the end we saw 3 men supersede their abilities and do something amazing. As evidenced by Schleck fading 1k from the top, Evans not being able to bring Schleck all the way back, and Voeckler having his out of body experience at the finish, all of these men were beyond their limits.
All that and the remaining suspense of the next two days. Can Schleck repeat tomorrow? Can Voeckler TT like a man possessed and bring home yellow? Or do the 3 of them ride to the top together tomorrow, and Evans walks away with it on Saturday?
@sgt
LOL. The only thing I got right was being late for work... Great stage tho, looking forward to L'Alp D'Huez. Late for work again tomorrow.
I quote my post when I made my picks last night:
"[Because I gave up on choosing him to win], he'll spend all night meditating on Rule #5, and dish out the pain on the Galibier tomorrow after all, completely betraying my picking him for the last god knows how long..."
Well, I was right. What a ride!
Also, was that Eddie Merckx injecting some pure V into le Petit Grimpleur in the final couple of kms from the Race Director's car?
@sgt
Turn your VSP exactly around and you have the top-3.