Mrs John Murphy said:
Ho hum. I've already told you that I think that 1 TDF and 1 Giro with a super-charged Basso is not a very good return for a team which has put all its resources into the TDF especially over the last few years. I'd expect a better return than 1 in 15 over the last 10 years in GT's.
And again Saxo has not put all their resources into the TDF as evidenced by their excelent results in the classics. Still I sense you think GT victories are the measure of success, remind me of which teams have done better in that period?
Mrs John Murphy said:
Now here's the difference between you and me. If Riis guides Schleck to Paris in Yellow I'll be more than happy to reconsider my opinion of the team and its tactics, but if Schleck fails will you be willing to reconsider that tactics don't matter and that Riis might have got things wrong in this race? Will you still be claiming that Dertie is unbeatable and will you still be making excuses?
That depends on how they win or lose the race. If Contador kicks away in the mountain and Schleck cannot follow I don't see how this is a matter of tactics. If Contador manages to hang on in the mountains and take the 41 seconds in the ITT it's still not a matter of tactics. If Andy Schleck manages to take more time in the mountains or puts in an incredible effort in the ITT to hang on it's still not a matter of tactics, it's a matter of raw strenght. If they win by forcing a split on a stage with sidewind that's solid tactic, not brilliant mind you, because it's not like splitting the field on a windy stage is novel, but it's solid. If they miss a side wind split then that's not smart, it's not proof of being the most incompetent team in the field, because lot's of people miss splits, but it's not good sign.
Mrs John Murphy said:
Do you think that tactics don't matter in defending the jersey for the rest of the race when the team is minus its best mountain domestique?
A bit, but not that much, they obviously shouldn't let a contender into a break and let that break have 10 minutes, but that's obvious.
Tell me what do you think Saxo should do to tactics wise? I'll go first.
I think Saxo should try to keep thing together untill the final climb or possible the next final on stage 14 because the distance is short. Then Andy should attack and try to drop Contador if it works good, if not try to hang on to Any Contador makes and try to defend the jersey on the ITT. Is this imaginative or novel? No, but it works if Andy is stronger on the climbs or shows unexpected strenght in the ITT, it runs the risk of having Contador gain time on a counterattack compared to a more conservative approach but Andy IMO needs the extra time. Sidewind is an option of course but requirtes well sidewind.
What do you think, what brilliant stratagems would you try? Would it be testimony to Riis' tactical genius if Andy can put out 50 watt more than Contador on a climb or proof of his incompetence if he puts out 50 watt less, or are there perhaps other factors that determine who drops who on a climb? Do Contador and Andy have smarter DS than the rest of the contenders or are they just better climbers?
ETA: I'm going to make a bet with myself that whatever happens Mrs John Murphy is going to decide it's proof of Riis tactical incompetence.