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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Chapeau to Fränk for wearing a cycling cap to the post-race interviews...
Fireworks on l'Alpe tomorrow. No question all the guns will go off right before turn #1. I wish to Merckx I was there right now. How cool would it be to part of that party?
But watch for all the jockying right before the base of the climb. Teams will be amassing, and when they make that left turn, some shits gonna go down.
@Steampunk
indeed!
@Joe
I'm on pins and needles!!! You just have to support whoever wins this one!! WOW!
@Steampunk
Thought the same thing. Nicely done.
Cyclops for the VSP win today, yea!!!! Also, a copy of Chasing Legends just showed up in my mailbox so I'll be eating steak and watching that in preparation for the Sr. Games road race tomorrow. Hopefully I can get on the podium again.
Well, anyone who thought with his head and not with his heart and believed that Tommy V. was going to have the ride of his life today is lying into the computer monitor. That was some beautiful racing today. I was particularly impressed, dare I say it, by Cadel Evans. And, sad to say, shocked that at this stage of the race, of all stages, Contador really cracked. Didn't see any of this coming. As to A. Schleck, he was very wise to execute a stage plan to put himself in a great position. He, too, didn't think Tommy V. was going to ride as he did. I don't see it paying off for either Schleck in Paris.
But, then again, I've been wrong before.
What a stage I could not see the last 15k so will catch it tonight... one thought was that Andy, when he went, never swivelnecked, hesitated or faltered and Cadel is now an official hardman if he wasn't already - EPIC!
That will go down in history as an absolute classic. As will this whole Tour. Cadel is a stud. TV is a stud. And the Swivel Family has redeemed itself. Marvellous, marvellous stuff.
I think Evans might be in a bit of trouble tomorrow. Frank who will be fresher than Andy can put some pressure on Evans to really try to break him. Evans was looking really hurt today at the end.
Stage win of this tour goes to Andy.
Ride of the tour goes to Tommy V.