The official debate: Should Contador have waited for Schleck?

[Gcraenen]

Someone named "Bob" over at velonews had this to say, maybe it will put some things into perspective for some people:

"I just launched a massive attack to get time on you, sorry but my chain slipped so all of you please stop racing while I regroup so I can attack you again.

I feel for Andy but come on, racing is racing and if it were reversed would Andy have honestly waited for Alberto?

The real shame in all of this is another controversy in the TDF"

On another note, there is still a way for Alberto to "save face" and win the public over, on the final TT he can wait an extra 39 seconds after his start time in the start house in honor of AS for his public-perceived error.

Personally I still think AC will crush him.

God bless Bobke for saying it like it is. Now, what about Jurgen vd Broecke. That is some surprise huh.

 

[Big Doopie]

Keep in mind that Biological Entity is BPC, and he should not be responded to..

thanks bro deal. came to this late and did not pick up on the similarity. will ignore.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Personally I thought Contador knew he had a puncture and just continued on with it. Even if he didn't his team car would of told him what was going on. The others just follwed Contador because they didn't want to lose time. I guess when Andy shoots his mouth off like he has that it is going to bite him on the bumb!

 

[Piratical]

Nope, he gets plenty of respect from all his fans, including me . He ****ed a lot of LA fanboys like you...but you guys don't count...cause you have never been his fan.

The other thing, AC races bicycles for a living and LA fanboys/frenchies like you don't sponsor him, so he couldn't care less....

Are you serious? What a sychophant.

 

[theswordsman]

Contador video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdOJLuePexs

 

[Dewulf]

...

But I think we can all agree the pistol on the podium was in poor taste

Yikes I wasn't watching when he did that....sh$t, and i was just starting to get over my aversion to the guy, most of which came from that stupid salute. Meh, 'stars' and their bloody egos, he just had to say "I da man!!" didn't he....

 

[Hugh Januss]

Dont recall neither of them beeing in yellow at that particular time.. and i dont recall seeing a half of duzen riders in a mess.. i remember bunches!

About the episode
Alberto was going to crack.. he didnt have the legs.. it was clear.. andy attack was going to break him.. you can even see that first to react is vino.. then menchov and the others.. when the chain breaks.. Alberto was way back.. to catch Andy's wheel.. ok .. he had vino to help.. but vino would have to wait and lose also Andy's wheel..

Have you even looked at any video of the incident? Because you seem to have absolutely no idea what happened.

 

[Anonymous]

You're telling me that attacking an opponent who is out of position is "a weasel move"?

That makes no sense. That is smart racing. Cancellara attacked when Boonen was out of position at PR, was that "weasel" too.

TFF you generally have good arguments but I think your opinion is biased on this one.

Edit: This may have already been discussed. I came back from a meeting and did not notice the "12" pages that had been added.

Again, put yourself in Alberto's shoes. Lets say you went back to talk to the DS or whatever reason you drifted back a little. The only guy in the race that can beat you attacks you BECAUSE you will not be able to respond quickly. Your reaction would be "that crafty Andy, why, that was brilliant!" or like me, would you think something like "You little FU*KER! Okay, if that is the way you want to play, then lets play that way."

Maybe I am just a sick, sick person. My guess is however, that the great majority of men, if honestly assessing the situation, would tend towards my response, but your results may vary.

 

[nicholaaaas]

He rapidly closed the gap because Andy was practically standing still at that point! But yes, pistol on the podium was in poor taste.

he was already closing the gap. i just wish it didn't happed because from what i saw a viscous counter-attack was coming

 

[Publicus]

Well AC made a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdOJLuePexs

 

[auscyclefan94]

On the contrary, nobody waited for Cadel in la vuelta when he had the puncture that costed him the (chance) to win the race. It is unfortunate it happened to schleck but I have little sympathy for the guy.

 

[reubenr]

In St 3, do you suppose that AS knew that AC was caught behind the crashes? Course he did. Did he wait? No, he sat on Canc's wheel and tried to put as much time between him and AC as possible.

There's no difference whatsoever - both were taking advantage of a rival's misfortune that had nothing to do with who was the strongest and in terms of time gained, AS comes out ahead.

This one was just more "obvious" but it's AS who's benefited from taking advantages the most, overall.

I would add that if Schleck wins the TDF, it was really Cancellara's victory.

 

[schnebit]

Again, put yourself in Alberto's shoes. Lets say you went back to talk to the DS or whatever reason you drifted back a little.

I'd say that's a pretty dumb move at that point in the race...

 

[Biological Entity]

this ought to stop the argument dead in its tracks, but it won't. the only issue I have is that it wasn't a mechanical, but if it had been me, I'd call it a mechanical too out of pride/embarrassment.
Folks are getting a bit carried away, but let the passions burn. It is a fine reflection of how near and dear cycle racing is to so many people. I am enjoying it.

As expected Schleck is being graceful and refusing to attack a friend for exploiting him, but that doesn't mean we can't pass judgement on it.

After all the punctures and crashes in this tour, people are just desperate to see this thing decided in a fair manner where you can look at the winner and say he really deserved it.

It's actually quite hard to 'hate' Contador, with his boyish naive type looks and his goofy grin. I think he gets off a bit too easily because of this, and because he dethroned a certain other rider that it much more polarising than himself.

It's just really sad to see this thing decided on a mechanical a week out. Especially at a time when it's by no means clear that AC would definitely have won.

 

[Publicus]

How about giving the whole SaxoBank team a 39 second head start tomorrow? That could be interesting.

The rest of the team was far down the mountain, so they don't get the head start.

 

[nicholaaaas]

Dont recall neither of them beeing in yellow at that particular time.. and i dont recall seeing a half of duzen riders in a mess.. i remember bunches!

About the episode
Alberto was going to crack.. he didnt have the legs.. it was clear.. andy attack was going to break him.. you can even see that first to react is vino.. then menchov and the others.. when the chain breaks.. Alberto was way back.. to catch Andy's wheel.. ok .. he had vino to help.. but vino would have to wait and lose also Andy's wheel..

if vino was closing the gap it couldn't been that strong an attack. like i said before it will come out that Andy pulled something dirty when he first attacked AC

 

[Publicus]

In St 3, do you suppose that AS knew that AC was caught behind the crashes? Course he did. Did he wait? No, he sat on Canc's wheel and tried to put as much time between him and AC as possible.

There's no difference whatsoever - both were taking advantage of a rival's misfortune that had nothing to do with who was the strongest and in terms of time gained, AS comes out ahead.

This one was just more "obvious" but it's AS who's benefited from taking advantages the most, overall.

From 85th to 6th in one stage.

 

[BroDeal]

Maybe I am just a sick, sick person. My guess is however, that the great majority of men, if honestly assessing the situation, would tend towards my response, but your results may vary.

I think real men were outlawed quite a while ago. Nowdays you cannot even kick a man when he is down--the best time to kick him--without the politically correct wusses getting their panties in a wad.

 

[schnebit]

Like it or not, at least it should keep the race interesting...

 

[OneRaceWonder]

Easy to be sorry AC

The appology is just words. You did what you had to do, and probably lost in the long run, but did enough to win the TdF...

 

[auscyclefan94]

Like it or not, at least it should keep the race interesting...

How? Andy Schleck was going to attack regardless on the tourmalet and now wth Conti in the lead, the time trial will be no contest.

 

[Anonymous]

Seriously?? Am I going to get suckered in EVERY time?

You've got a lot to learn...

 

[Throbbobank]

Contador didn't seem to mind letting Menchov and Sanchez ride away yesterday, did he? He had plenty of choice.

And, on behalf of a lot of my friends who are the real (Native) Americans-- we'll give you Brits back a spot of tea as soon as you give back a few continents to the people who used to own them!

2wheels - no disprespect but yesterday was clearly different as Contador was with Schleck - they both had it in their power to lose time or (as actually happened) both fight to maintain position...I am no Alberto apologist but am reading a lot of comment with regard to a reaction which on playback happened in under two seconds and resulted in a sit up within 20 seconds - I suspect that some people are mistaking the time for action, communication and reaction in the Pyrennees with Call of Duty on broadband on the playstation....

ps. Is the tea reply really demanding a reply? mine was clearly only in jest - but I'm more than happy to enter into a historic debate on such matters (including on indigenous peoples) though I suspect that this forum is not the place for it

 

[alberto.legstrong]

How? Andy Schleck was going to attack regardless on the tourmalet and now wth Conti in the lead, the time trial will be no contest.

maybe his upcoming attacks will be done with a little more vigor than what I have seen so far in the tdf.

If he bones the TT all of this SHOULD be moot. But it won't be. The sissification of the world continues unabated.

 

[schnebit]

How? Andy Schleck was going to attack regardless on the tourmalet and now wth Conti in the lead, the time trial will be no contest.

Because now Schleck has even more at stake...