elapid said:Unfair may be the incorrect word because I am not saying that there is any wrongdoing by any individual or team. Teams are obviously integral to a GC contender's success, from protecting them on the flats, controlling breaks, and setting them up in the mountains. But the TTT is taking the team role too far IMO. The aim for a GC contender is obviously to win the GT, and it would be nice to see the GC contenders go head-to-head to decide the winner, whether it be ITT and/or the mountains. I think it is unfortunate that this may not happen this year because the best team, rather than potentially the best individual, won the TTT and gained such large time gaps to make it very difficult for some of true GC contenders to contend the overall win.
I see your point, but the two GC candidates most impacted by yesterday's TTT, Evans and Menchov, could have done things to address their team shortcomings. Well maybe not Evans. His management just hasn't been able to get (and keep) a decent team around him. That being said, he was the first to admit his guys were young and stressed. They should have practiced more, though I don't know if it would have made a difference with the time lost to the crash (wheel touch). As for Menchov, no excuse for what happened yesterday or on Stage 1 for that matter.
Sastre is still there. So is Andy Schleck. So is Roman K. And the upside is that Evans and Menchov will have to attack in the mountains to get back time. I think this will have the effect making a far more exciting race this weekend than if Evans was within 5 seconds of Contador (can you say wheel suck?).