How important is it to stay in the front?

[FlyingPortagee]

Just ask Bert. Once again Contadud doesn't learn and gets caught in the back. Actually, prob more like the middle but obviously not in the top 50 riders. I clearly saw Evans and Schleck in about the top 20 when they showed the frontal views of the Peloton. Then to top it all off the guy seems to have given up in the last kilometer almost as if he was thinking that he was going to get the 3 Kilo rule. It was difficult to tell exactly where he was during both crashes, but you would think he would show a little more urgency in that last kilometer. I wouldn't be surprised to see him totally explode tomorrow similar to Delgado exploding in his TTT after losing tons of time on the first day. Maybe Contadud was trying to conserve his energy for tomorrow, but clearly the guy doesn't seem to show the attention to details that he should and its going to cost him dearly one day.

 

[Mambo95]

Just ask Bert. Once again Contadud doesn't learn and gets caught in the back.

The thing is, Contador does know that. Any analysis of non-GC stages in Tours past shows that he generally appears up at the front.

His problem is that due to the Giro he is not at optimum form and is therefore less able to keep his position at the front.

All the GC candidates know this, but they consider it at different grades. The one GC rider who is always near the front is Evans - and that showed today. (Ironically the other two GC riders who tend to be right at the front are Contador and Sanchez)

 

[FlyingPortagee]

The thing is, Contador does know that. Any analysis of non-GC stages in Tours past shows that he generally appears up at the front.

His problem is that due to the Giro he is not at optimum form and is therefore less able to keep his position at the front.

All the GC candidates know this, but they consider it at different grades. The one GC rider who is always near the front is Evans - and that showed today. (Ironically the other two GC riders who tend to be right at the front are Contador and Sanchez)

I see what your saying, but I really don't think it was his form or him being worn out but rather him just being lazy or not paying attention and getting caught for it. If it is because of his form what does that say about him for the rest of the tour considering he couldn't position himself on a Cat 4 climb. I would find it difficult to believe that his form would improve enough if he is having trouble now.

 

[Mambo95]

I see what your saying, but I really don't think it was his form or him being worn out but rather him just being lazy or not paying attention and getting caught for it. If it is because of his form what does that say about him for the rest of the tour considering he couldn't position himself on a Cat 4 climb. I would find it difficult to believe that his form would improve enough if he is having trouble now.

It wasn't laziness. I could point you to a discussion I had on another website after the Spinish TT championships. I said AC would be concerned with his form. Another poster said it was three weeks before the mountains. I countered that you don't want to be searching for form in the first week of the Tour as you are at risk from crashes etc if you can't get up the front.

And as I said, Contador is someone who usually gets in the front.

Laziness shouldn't come into it. GC riders know what they have to do to avoid crashes.

 

[UpTheRoad]

Just ask Bert. Once again Contadud doesn't learn and gets caught in the back. Actually, prob more like the middle but obviously not in the top 50 riders. I clearly saw Evans and Schleck in about the top 20 when they showed the frontal views of the Peloton. Then to top it all off the guy seems to have given up in the last kilometer almost as if he was thinking that he was going to get the 3 Kilo rule. It was difficult to tell exactly where he was during both crashes, but you would think he would show a little more urgency in that last kilometer. I wouldn't be surprised to see him totally explode tomorrow similar to Delgado exploding in his TTT after losing tons of time on the first day. Maybe Contadud was trying to conserve his energy for tomorrow, but clearly the guy doesn't seem to show the attention to details that he should and its going to cost him dearly one day.

Given what happened a few minutes earlier with AC, what is AS's excuse for getting caught behind the second crash?

 

[Publicus]

Very important, but it's easier said than done, especially when the road is narrow and the peloton is in full flight. It's unfortunate, but it happens. We'll see what AC is made of over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Polish]

Very important, but it's easier said than done, especially when the road is narrow and the peloton is in full flight. It's unfortunate, but it happens. We'll see what AC is made of over the next couple of weeks.

I'm thinking it will be HARD to "see what AC is made of".
He's a bit secretive.
At least if we use history as a guide.

Like Bruyneel and Martinelli have both said - "he has his own people"
Saiz has spoken along the same lines too.

And remember last year?
Stringing along Astana while secretly negotiating with Riis.
Sending out for Spanish Meat while others dined on French Cuisine.
Chasing down team mate Vino oops.

The year before having his personal mechanic snoop around Lance's wheels.
snoop snoop.
And attacking team mate Klodi.
Could have had an awesome podium sweep instead of 2 out of three.

I honestly feel we will NOT see what AC is made of the over the next couple of weeks. Behind closed doors.

 

[greenedge]

Poor Contador. He will have to get into top form and fast.

 

[dlwssonic]

now they are gonna go all guns blazing on the bretagne and super besse sancy contador should be careful.

 

[The Hitch]

Its a lot easier for fans of riders who have proper domestiques to talk about how you should stay at the front.

 

[movingtarget]

He won't be the first or last great rider to be caught out like that but it was a critical mistake that close to the finish. I can't believe that Garmin got caught out so badly as well. But sometimes accidents happen at the front as well. Contador would have wanted to ride himself into form in the first week but unfortunately he is under pressure already. The ideal situation for the other GC riders especially when some of them are expected to put even more time into Contador in the TTT.

 

[Midnightfright]

Very important, but it's easier said than done, especially when the road is narrow and the peloton is in full flight. It's unfortunate, but it happens. We'll see what AC is made of over the next couple of weeks.

Well he was within 3k so I guess u can give those guys benefit of doubt.

 

[ChopperArris]

I always think you can guage just how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton by listening to just how many times Sherwen says how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton - usually, he says how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton maybe only 3 or 4 times per stage, but after yesterdays debacle, which clearly emphasised how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton, I expect to hear him say how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton several times more.

Because, lest we forget, it is important to stay at the front of the peloton.

 

[Midnightfright]

I always think you can guage just how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton by listening to just how many times Sherwen says how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton - usually, he says how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton maybe only 3 or 4 times per stage, but after yesterdays debacle, which clearly emphasised how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton, I expect to hear him say how important it is to stay at the front of the peloton several times more.

Because, lest we forget, it is important to stay at the front of the peloton.

Even during the TTT?

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'm thinking it will be HARD to "see what AC is made of".
He's a bit secretive.
At least if we use history as a guide.

Like Bruyneel and Martinelli have both said - "he has his own people"
Saiz has spoken along the same lines too.

And remember last year?
Stringing along Astana while secretly negotiating with Riis.
Sending out for Spanish Meat while others dined on French Cuisine.
Chasing down team mate Vino oops.

The year before having his personal mechanic snoop around Lance's wheels.
snoop snoop.
And attacking team mate Klodi.
Could have had an awesome podium sweep instead of 2 out of three.

I honestly feel we will NOT see what AC is made of the over the next couple of weeks. Behind closed doors.

I hope you're not being serious, otherwise you really need to find some help...

 

[Frosty]

Someone will always be caught out behind a crash like that, not every contender for the GC and stage can be in the top 50-70 along with their team-mates as everyone else hoping to finish reasonably high on GC or have a go at the stage win will be aiming to be in the top 50-70 too.

Contador got caught out in 2009 but so did most other GC people, including the Schlecks who had been at the front but went the long way round the roundabout and lost 10s of places.

In this race though, having a stronger team on the flat would have made being caught out less likely. Yesterday's events make it likely that others will be enouraged to try and split the peloton over the next few stages.

 

[Frosty]

He won't be the first or last great rider to be caught out like that but it was a critical mistake that close to the finish. I can't believe that Garmin got caught out so badly as well. But sometimes accidents happen at the front as well. Contador would have wanted to ride himself into form in the first week but unfortunately he is under pressure already. The ideal situation for the other GC riders especially when some of them are expected to put even more time into Contador in the TTT.

They had a lot of people to think about, both Hushovd and maybe Farrar for the finish, as well as a host of other people for GC chances later on. Not easy to basically get the whole team on the front when everyone else is trying to. Hushovd, Millar and Navardauskas all made the front half meaning that they will take yellow if they win today (Hushovd).

 

[Ramira]

Its a lot easier for fans of riders who have proper domestiques to talk about how you should stay at the front.

While that may be true in the case of Contador that's not really an excuse. If you have one of the biggest budgets in cycling there is no excuse not to have a true domestique for the number 1 GT cyclist in the world.

While I can admit it might very well not be Contador's fault I think Riis has to take at least part of the blame for not making sure there is someone to guide Contador through the peleton.

 

[Irish2009]

Ramira, thats the crux of Contadors problem yesterday. Where were Saxo-Bank? Thier number 1 contender for the GC was left isolated when he needed his team around him, no Saxo-Bank riders ahead of Contador in the GC, they were all behind him. There's no excuse, yesterday was a demonstration on how not to ride the first stage of a Grand Tour. Everyone knows that GT first stages are nerveous and so Saxo-Bank should have been keeping Contador up front out of trouble, or if he got in trouble there to help him out.

 

[rhubroma]

Ramira, thats the crux of Contadors problem yesterday. Where were Saxo-Bank? Thier number 1 contender for the GC was left isolated when he needed his team around him, no Saxo-Bank riders ahead of Contador in the GC, they were all behind him. There's no excuse, yesterday was a demonstration on how not to ride the first stage of a Grand Tour. Everyone knows that GT first stages are nerveous and so Saxo-Bank should have been keeping Contador up front out of trouble, or if he got in trouble there to help him out.

Yep. That's true.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Was AC really that much in the back yesterday? The crash started on the 6th row or something...

 

[theswordsman]

Did you watch the race yesterday, paying attention to the front of the peloton? EVERYBODY wanted to be in front. The road was wide, and guys were nervous. I saw Contador tuck in behind a few Leopard-Trek riders, with a clear space to the right front. But guys kept passing on both sides and moving to the front. One guy described it as an accordion. Everyone knows the safe place is the front, and 22 teams want to be there. Not a big deal, it happens. It gave Andy Schleck a chance to tell the world he's clever, and that may never happen again. Alberto said his legs felt really good yesterday. If he's the gifted athlete some of us believe he is, he'll be in better shape right now than he was at the Giro, when he did whatever he wanted. Meanwhile in the real world Schlecklet should continue to see the bib numbers of older American riders when the road points up.

 

[lostincosmos]

Was AC really that much in the back yesterday? The crash started on the 6th row or something...

Came in here to say this...wonder why only two people seem to know this? Maybe we were the only ones who actually watched

 

[ManInFull]

Came in here to say this...wonder why only two people seem to know this? Maybe we were the only ones who actually watched

I agree. His biggest problem was just bad luck--I believe that he was on the side of the peleton nearest the crash. Had he been farther to the left, he might have escaped with Evans and the Schlecks.

 

[erader]

schleck has his 39 seconds plus a minute. no excuses this time rodent boy.

erader