Popovych - Maybe he is paid by someone else

[Alpe d'Huez]

I saw the same race Jacques did. It was tactics. And I saw the same as the rest of you, Levi just didn't have it and wilted in the heat. Even if they had employed a different strategy, Levi still didn't have the legs to win. End of story.

None of us really know what Astanas plan's are for the Tour. Lance is such a great poker player he may well just be a total decoy knowing he can't out climb Contador, and would be best used getting the Schlecks, Sastre, Evans, etc. to chase him down all the time. OR...

He may well feel strong and determined enough, and plan on getting the Maillot Jaune after the first TT or the TTT and pushing AC aside. One thing is certain, they have completely different riding styles, which will make team tactics interesting.

 

[issoisso]

He may well feel strong and determined enough, and plan on getting the Maillot Jaune after the first TT or the TTT and pushing AC aside. One thing is certain, they have completely different riding styles, which will make team tactics interesting.

Notice that the opening time trial is suited very well to Contador's characteristics.

In fact, the entire Tour route completely avoids Contador's big weakness: stamina. Aside from possibly the Grand Bornand stage, none of the big mountain stages amount to more than a flat stage with a climb at the end.

Even the final time trial stops just short of the distance at which Contador starts to lose major time.

 

[Trev_S]

Did anyone pace Leipheimer up after his mechanical? It looked to me like he was on his own from what I remember. I would think you would want your guy to expend as little energy as possible to get back in the mix.

From what I saw it looked as though one other Astana rider stopped with Leipheimer for a wheel swap. Whoever it was then had to wait for the team car thus not help Leipheimer chase back on. It didn't appear any other Astana rider slowed and dropped back. The coverage didn't show much of it though.
Although as Leipheimer was nearly back the shots showed him solo with the tail of the peloton not far ahead. This was then nearing the bottom of the descent. In those lower slopes the road looked a little more open and he worked back up to the front area again just in time for the climb.

I thought it very odd why there was no help, as there was very little time before the bottom of the descent and the start of the climb.


As for the rest of the Astana tactics I think Popo was up front as a leap frog for the final climb and so as the rest of them could sit in and conserve.
Leipheimer blew pretty early, so once that happened I think Popo got word to have a go for the stage as he was now of now tactical use.

Why Armstrong bridged up to the Menchov group is beyond me (well sort of, I'd say he wanted to go with them regardless of Leipheimer).Then not being able to stay with the pace as Sastre attacked again, looked/waited for Leipheimer.

 

[RdBiker]

I saw the same race Jacques did. It was tactics. And I saw the same as the rest of you, Levi just didn't have it and wilted in the heat. Even if they had employed a different strategy, Levi still didn't have the legs to win. End of story.

None of us really know what Astanas plan's are for the Tour. Lance is such a great poker player he may well just be a total decoy knowing he can't out climb Contador, and would be best used getting the Schlecks, Sastre, Evans, etc. to chase him down all the time. OR...

He may well feel strong and determined enough, and plan on getting the Maillot Jaune after the first TT or the TTT and pushing AC aside. One thing is certain, they have completely different riding styles, which will make team tactics interesting.

Maybe their tactic is just that. Make everyone guess who the true leader of Astana is at the Tour. Even though everyone at Astana would know that Lance is going to be **** at the Tour why tell everyone else? What do they have to gain by telling? And what do they gain by not telling? The other riders won't know whether to chase down Armstrong or not if he decides to go on an attack.

 

[yourwelcome]

Would it offend forum rules to suggest that Armstrong might be old and secure enough to ride professionally and help Contador win the TdF, as he's been saying ad nauseam?

Armstrong's experience could help Contador enormously, but judging by the interviews I've read the problem is more in AC being too insecure to accept Armstrong than the other way around.

 

[elapid]

Would it offend forum rules to suggest that Armstrong might be old and secure enough to ride professionally and help Contador win the TdF, as he's been saying ad nauseam?

Armstrong's experience could help Contador enormously, but judging by the interviews I've read the problem is more in AC being too insecure to accept Armstrong than the other way around.

It would be nice if that were true and only time well tell. His ego and ambition would suggest AC has every right to be insecure, and his performance in this year's Giro makes it obvious that he is aiming to peak at the TdF. Why would he peak to help AC? If it came down to a choice between AC and LA to lead the team, then there is no doubt which rider JB would support. However, if they truly acted like a team, then Astana do have a number of cards up their sleeve because LA would be the perfect foil to distract teams away from AC. Regardless, it will be interesting to see what eventuates.

 

[180mmCrank]

Would it offend forum rules to suggest that Armstrong might be old and secure enough to ride professionally and help Contador win the TdF, as he's been saying ad nauseam?

Armstrong's experience could help Contador enormously, but judging by the interviews I've read the problem is more in AC being too insecure to accept Armstrong than the other way around.

Not sure if you have seen this ... and I am sure you can interpret what is said and what is not said in a number of ways but one thing it is not is LA expressing unwavering support for AC.

http://video.gazzetta.it/Giro?vxSiteId=80b44ba4-1aae-449c-b8c2-d70533903c2b&vxChannel=Giro_Primo_Piano&vxClipId=2570_701d5b50-4961-11de-b882-00144f02aabc&vxBitrate=300


I think I'd have reason to be insecure if I were Alberto - and he may be just fine - after all he knows that he is the the best GT rider right now