Are Saxo-Bank tactically inept at TT?

[Zam_Olyas]

They did not switch to a tt bike.

 

[Billie]

They started with the bikes they wanted to use for the descent.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

contador made a huge mistaje. he lost lots of time in first descend with his disc wheel and also some in 2nd climb. can't believe it. kreuziger did entire itt wiht a normal biker and lost a lot in the end. incredible

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Do we really need a new thread for this? They made a decision, it might not have worked. Sure isn't a tactical thing.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

And they backed a wrong man in Contador. They should have backed RK after seeing how bad Velasco was in the first week.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Of course not. He would've lost about 10 seconds so would still be behind Froome.

 

[Afrank]

Probably wouldn't have made a real big difference, and Froome would have won either way. But given that most others (including Froome) changed bikes, I'm more inclined to think Contador should have as well.

 

[Red Rick]

I voted both the first and last option

 

[PhiberAwptik]

And they backed a wrong man in Contador. They should have backed RK after seeing how bad Velasco was in the first week.

Not sure how this keeps getting brought up. Kreuziger is still BEHIND Contador, even though it is close. Roman won't be there tomorrow in the end.

 

[Pippo_San]

I can't believe Riis could be so naive.

WTF a disc wheel...why??? Change the ****in bike FFS!?!?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Of course not. He would've lost about 10 seconds so would still be behind Froome.

They are tactically inept they got lucky in two stage at the vuelta and this tdf. Riis is not a good tactician like Brailsford.

 

[Miburo]

Contador would have lost anyways, then prob with 2 sec so i prefer this. Less painful

The bike change takes at least 8-10 sec, including the loss of speed.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Not sure how this keeps getting brought up. Kreuziger is still BEHIND Contador, even though it is close. Roman won't be there tomorrow in the end.

If they have ridden for RK then Velasco would be behind him by now.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Contador would have lost anyways, then prob with 2 sec so i prefer this. Less painful

The bike change takes at least 8-10 sec, including the loss of speed.

contador lost more than 10 seconds alone in the first descend alone. look at kreuziger there with his normal bike, although he is a bit better descender, however purito en valverde who are not better descenders than contador also took time

 

[Zam_Olyas]

:d


.....................

 

[mrhender]

And they backed a wrong man in Contador. They should have backed RK after seeing how bad Velasco was in the first week.

Isn't it a bit early to make that conclusion?
Roman has a history of having one or several "fallouts" in final stages of GTs..
AC however tends to build up form in TDF.

They now have 2 and 3 place in contest with problably the best rider in a decade... Not so bad i think..

And looking at the time difference today it seems Froome might hit the bar of his form, and with a possibly weak team i think Saxo has a lot of options to put pressure on the yellow..

 

[plooton]

Of course not. He would've lost about 10 seconds so would still be behind Froome.

am pretty sure the bikes thing made more then 10 sec. difference, guess some 15-20 sec.

 

[xrayvision]

You make an estimate, and you make a choice, it´s a chance, sometimes you make the right one sometimes you don´t.

Calling Riis inept when it comes to TT I would say is 100 times more inept.

 

[Pulpstar]

THere really wasn't much in this, maybe Saxo lost 5 seconds overall.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

You make an estimate, and you make a choice, it´s a chance, sometimes you make the right one sometimes you don´t.

Calling Riis inept when it comes to TT I would say is 100 times more inept.

What has he done to be called a great tactician?

 

[The Hitch]

Contador would have lost anyways, then prob with 2 sec so i prefer this. Less painful

The bike change takes at least 8-10 sec, including the loss of speed.

Not much loss of speed at the top of the climb. They already go slow

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Contador went off too fast and faded a bit. The times for the climbs show this - he was fastest on the first climb and only 5th fastest on the second climb. Looking at the way Froome was pottering around on his TT bike when the rain came back whereas Contador was able to throw it into the corners (plus the time required for the change) I don't think it cost him any time.

And even if it did cost him time the decision is ultimately one for the rider, not the team. If Contador wants to change bikes he can change bikes. The thread title is silly

 

[Le Baroudeur]

They did not switch to a tt bike.

Which would have saved 5" if no switch issues were encountered. 10" to switch to gain 15" unless you're Froome where you just adjust your speed accordingly to make it look reasonably close and repeat what Dave says in the earpiece post race.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Contador went off too fast and faded a bit. The times for the climbs show this - he was fastest on the first climb and only 5th fastest on the second climb. Looking at the way Froome was pottering around on his TT bike when the rain came back whereas Contador was able to throw it into the corners (plus the time required for the change) I don't think it cost him any time.

And even if it did cost him time the decision is ultimately one for the rider, not the team. If Contador wants to change bikes he can change bikes. The thread title is silly

I think the thread title is the best ever.

 

[Angliru]

What has he done to be called a great tactician?

Aren't "great tactician" and "inept" at opposite ends of the spectrum? He can't be somewhere in between, human enough to make a mistake if in fact one considers their choice a mistake?