Should Contador have let Schleck win?

[Belokki]

I think the last person to win the tour, without winning a stage, was Contador's countryman Miguel Indurain. Who became one of the greatest grand tour riders of all time - kinda like Contador is becoming.

Im not questioning either riders greatnes, but not winning the mountain stages is out of character in Contadors case!

Indurain was expected to win the ITTs, he did, Contador is expected to win in the mountains, he didn't,!

5 stage wins in 5 Grand Tours is kinda shallow from a guy whos nick is "El Pistolero"!

 

[Oldman]

I think AC might just have been able to get around Schleck, but I wouldn't over estimate it. He was right on the limit himself. Maybe he told Schleck he could have it so Schleck did not have to make a little final push before the line which would have prevented AC in any event.

We did see AC try to attack AS further down the climb, so he clearly set out with the idea of winning the stage. This wasn't some great gift that he could easily have taken.

Perhaps not but I think AS was also primarily putting as much distance between he and Menchov as he could in the process. AC knew that and capitalized on the opportunity to seal his win and repair the PR damage. They still have some ground before Paris where accidents can occure. With both Astana and Saxo motivated to pull the odds are better both dudes will arrive intact.

 

[codrutc]

Sastre's comment

I really enjoyed this from Carlos Sastre , quote
"“Whoever wants to start debating or raising controversy about this matter can do so freely. I’ve fallen in this Tour, I fell in the Giro d'Italia, I’ve had technical problems and no one has ever waited for me. I think we’re turning cycling into a sport for spoiled brats and that is what happens in these kinds of circumstances."

Here is the article
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4...-cyclists-are-turning-into-spoiled-brats.aspx

 

[sartoris]

I really enjoyed this from Carlos Sastre , quote
"“Whoever wants to start debating or raising controversy about this matter can do so freely. I’ve fallen in this Tour, I fell in the Giro d'Italia, I’ve had technical problems and no one has ever waited for me. I think we’re turning cycling into a sport for spoiled brats and that is what happens in these kinds of circumstances."

Here is the article
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4...-cyclists-are-turning-into-spoiled-brats.aspx

I second that. Sastre is a 100% right there. They shoud put an end to that false fair-play.

Nice article, by the way! Thanks for sharing it, man.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/4...-cyclists-are-turning-into-spoiled-brats.aspx

 

[darwin]

of course Alberto was right in letting Andy win the stage, it doesn't effect the time so why not be a gentleman. the gesture reminded me of something Miguel Indurain used to do when he was Patron of the Tour.

Alberto dropped everyone including his teammates last year because lets be blunt here, Lance played games and turned the team against him. we all saw how that turned out for him. That was not in Alberto's character but he needed to make the point. What Alberto did today by letting Andy win is who he is and both Alberto and Andy are going to be incredible ambassadors for the greatest sport in the world.

hey, maybe if Armstrong would have shared some stages with his friends and teammates when it would not have hurt his time, Floyd wouldn't be ratting him out.

Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck are starting what I believe will be one of the greatest rivalries in cycling history.

 

[Ryaguas]

I don't know mates... Now I don't know what to think... See AC giving the stage was kind of sad... If there is an unwritten rule that says that you can't attack La Maillot Jaune when this is having mech problems... Should be an unwritten rule that says that:

YOU CAN'T GIFT LE TOURMALET!!!!

I understand that this was the ULTIMATE apology for the Chaingate problem but is pretty sad... Pro-cycling shouldn't be like this... Pro-cycling is not a tea party... but anyway they are the riders and doesn't matter what I can say here they are not going to read this...

They need to learn how to separate Cycling and friendship... On the road they have to "kill" each other but after finish the stage they be friends again...

Well back to the topic... AC shouldn't have given away the stage... I know that he was racing smartly but Le Tourmalet deserves respect... He only attacked once but He was doing great, he was tired but Andy was in his limit, Before AC's attack, Andy was already making faces... He was in red and nervous that's why he was looking a lot to AC... If AC made another killing attack, Andy would have dropped big time... but anyway... I hope more action next year...

 

[La Vie Claire]

Classy move by Contador for sure. Now AS is saying that he still has a chance in the TT. Can't fault the guy for not giving up, but what are the odds of AS gaining 9 seconds on AC in the TT? Unless some angry fan punches AC in the stomach and knocks him off his bike, it's not going to happen.

 

[Bennyl]

I don't think he should have let Andy win. This is the Tour, and there are no gifts. It would've been fitting if Contador had of won as it was the premier stage and he is the top rider of the peleton. He is a champion.

 

[La Pandera]

of course Alberto was right in letting Andy win the stage, it doesn't effect the time so why not be a gentleman. the gesture reminded me of something Miguel Indurain used to do when he was Patron of the Tour.

Alberto dropped everyone including his teammates last year because lets be blunt here, Lance played games and turned the team against him. we all saw how that turned out for him. That was not in Alberto's character but he needed to make the point. What Alberto did today by letting Andy win is who he is and both Alberto and Andy are going to be incredible ambassadors for the greatest sport in the world.

hey, maybe if Armstrong would have shared some stages with his friends and teammates when it would not have hurt his time, Floyd wouldn't be ratting him out.

Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck are starting what I believe will be one of the greatest rivalries in cycling history.

In Armstrong's defense (well, sort of), he did supposedly try to set up Landis for a stage win, but after watching it again for the first time in years, if Armstrong really was trying to set up Landis for the win on that stage, it should have been Armstrong on the front driving the pace in the final km, not Landis. Landis pretty much gave Kloden the perfect leadout, which of course Landis couldn't respond to and thus Armstrong came to the rescue and stole the stage in dramatic fashion.

 

[SilentAssassin]

Not a AC fan but I do think AC should have raced it out, it's a race after all. And what if AC crashes in the TT, then he'll really regret letting AS get that win, lol.

 

[scribe]

Another good reason to restore time bonuses. At minimum, Andy would be in yellow. At maximum, we wouldn't have to hear about how classy contador is

 

[eztarget]

He could have easily won?

Yeah AS is nothing not sure why AC didn't just ride away from him.

 

[Scirea]

We did see AC try to attack AS further down the climb, so he clearly set out with the idea of winning the stage. This wasn't some great gift that he could easily have taken.

It was. Contador rode hard for 20 seconds on Tourmalet. Other than that he was just looking around, waiting to get to the top finally...

 

[scribe]

It was. Contador rode hard for 20 seconds on Tourmalet. Other than that he was just looking around, waiting to get to the top finally...

At one point, he was rubbing down his sunglasses for a spectacular photo finish should shrek bonk

 

[HokieJoe]

Agreed.

Although, I'd never say winning a TDF stage is easy

Contador showed class today. He gave it a big dig, and when Andy marked him I think he was willing to concede. I think he would have tried again, but I think they were both a bit nervous about the spectators!

Did you see the fans, crazy!! It is really cool to see, but on the final of a summit finish like that they need barriers in the final 3km so the riders can feel secure enough to race.

Today the motos had to ride so close to protect Schleck and Contador that both were pretty much boxed in. I don't think either cared to much... but had they not been there we may have seen some more action in the final 2-3kms.

The 2004 TT up Alpe d'Huez was maybe more crazy.

 

[Road Hazard]

It was. Contador rode hard for 20 seconds on Tourmalet. Other than that he was just looking around, waiting to get to the top finally...

I was about to respond to this thread saying: Contador should have let Schleck win the stage considering Contador sat on his wheel the entire time.

But now that I read your post Scirea, I am reminded that sitting on someone's wheel in a steep climb is not a free ride. Drafting doesn't mean much at 8 mph on a steep grade. Pacing is great only if one can keep the pace.

No one else in the entire pro peloton could ride "hard for 20 seconds" and keep up, so I am not sure why you accuse Contador of doing nothing more than riding hard for 20 seconds and keeping up.

 

[HokieJoe]

AC tried to drop Schleck once and couldn't. That was his attempt to win the stage. Since Schleck had paced him 99% of the climb, I think AC thought it the sporting thing to do to not challenge him. He's probably still betting on the TT to get a stage win. JMO

 

[scribe]

AC tried to drop Schleck once and couldn't. That was his attempt to win the stage. Since Schleck had paced him 99% of the climb, I think AC thought it the sporting thing to do to not challenge him. He's probably still betting on the TT to get a stage win. JMO

Captain Obvious nic was already registered, eh?

 

[darwin]

AC tried to drop Schleck once and couldn't. That was his attempt to win the stage. Since Schleck had paced him 99% of the climb, I think AC thought it the sporting thing to do to not challenge him. He's probably still betting on the TT to get a stage win. JMO

I don't think Alberto was really concerned with winning the stage at all. However, I do agree that if he had dropped Schleck, he would have tried to win the stage. Heck, Alberto is the defending Champion, he has to step up but after Schleck answered, it was clear to me that Contador would let him win it at the end. Schleck was done after that incredible effort. It is just my opinion. Also, I think tomorrow is going to have Andy on the heavy attack again because I don't think either he or Alberto are viewing this Tour as over.

 

[HokieJoe]

Captain Obvious nic was already registered, eh?

All is not lost. You locked up the Captain Assclown avatar.

 

[nia O'Malley]

You all - except one - assume AC would have won it with a flower in his mouth had he but tried to sprint AS.



Maybe...........maybe not. It surely wasn't worth giving it a try and p*ssing off everyone in the process.