Anyone with a bit more tactical knowledge on this able to tell me why Astana were chasing down this breakaway so early in the stage? I would have thought they’d wait till they hit the slopes and try to isolate Schleck, instead of wasting energy chasing down these no marks on the flat.
Surprising enough all right. Saxo didn’t chase so left it up to Astana to set tempo. Contador could be looking for hard stage today to hurt Saxo and Schleck as much as possible prior to climbs. Sastre being set up for something here. He won in 2003 in similar stage. Hopefully Roche can get some assistance off Riblon later who is up ahead.
Well Schleck isn’t looking great now so they may have sensed that.
Also Schleck isn’t the best rider at just riding at one pace all the way up. He prefers to change his pace a bit and attack in bursts so they’ll try and take some of the sting out of him by driving the peleton a bit.
And the better the group that’s out ahead the more dangerous anyone is if they get across. So if Schleck went on his own he’d be racing against the peleton but if he manages to get away and then across to a leading group he could get big time.
Bit of a waste alright. he did not seem to have any snap in his legs when he was trying to get across. then again he probably didn’t have 4 litres worth of blood transfusions in himself either.
Schleck quite far back in the peleton. Wonder is he not feeling strong today. Roche on his wheel. Come on Nicolas! Sastre probably pick of riders up front now.
This tracker thing of the HTC Columbia riders is pretty good:
It’s such a welcome sight to see Armstrong going backwards.
Jaysus, has he forgotten how to pedal?
Schadenfreude?
Bizarre tactics from Schleck again. What the fook is he at?
Yeah, can’t understand why he is dropping back to the car himself, is it a sign he is feeling strong or weak, surely having to catch back up with the leaders must be wearing him out.
Absolutely.Two Saxo riders are in peleton so they could easily do that job you’d think.Perhaps trying to force Astana to do something.Really strange and seems very foolish to be honest.Armstrong once bluffed by going back to car to pretend he wasn’t feeling well and then went on to win stage though so I could be wrong.Either way though still think that all his efforts should be reserved for what is absolutely necessary.Earlier in the week he went back to car to get bottles for his teammates when in yellow.Foolish to do it on flat stage but pure madness today.
This is heating up lovely now. Anyone any idea where Roche is?
And there he is straight away. With a decent group of riders, the same lads he’s been with most of the time.
Vino going again.
This could suit Vdb and Menchov with Schleck and Contador playing games as Vino changes the pace.Strange tactics too from Astana.Only matter of time before AS or AC launch something
Schleck looking strong here, seems to have AC well covered, can he go himself though?
Both of them nearly stopped there.Schleck needs to go imo
AC & AS nearly came to a standstill!, Thought they had crashed. AC is looking worried.
Incredible stuff
Bizarre tactics. I think Contador looks in a small bit of trouble and Schleck should attack him. What are the pair of them at?
Steven Roche picked Menchov for today’s stage at the beginning of the program, I thought he was mad! Great ride by Menchov, helped by the messing going on behind him.