The Official Poll: Should Contador Have Waited For Schleck's Mechanical??

[the vagabond]

It's not a poll when you ask people a YES-NO question and then force responders into choosing from YOUR reasons to support their answers. Not to mention having 75% of the options supporting one (NO) position.

You come off as more of an influence-peddler than a pollster.

 

[dgodave]

WTF? Show me the words where I said anything close to meaning that.

Right here:

None of the above, there is no right answer, because the choice is entirely Contador's.

One persons freedom to choose does not invalidate another persons ethical considerations.
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If I have a good argument that he should have waited, then that argument is perfectly valid, despite Condadors freedom to disagree or ignore it in the context of the race.
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[Ninety5rpm]

It was AC's move, not Menchov or Sanchez, they were just following AC. The acceleration of AC happened after he saw that AS was having trouble and was nearly stopped in the middle of the road. He saw the problem and then attacked, claiming otherwise is a complete lie, not even a misunderstanding, a lie.

Incorrect. You can clearly see at :04 in this clip that Schleck has no problem yet and AC is already attacking. At this point he had moved from the back of the group (where he was when AS initiated his attack) to the front of the group. AS is still standing. AC is at the far left of the image. At :06 you can see AC is out in front of this group, separated from AS only by Vino. Schleck's gears slip 3 second later, at :09. Can't see AC at that moment, but undoubtedly he had already closed significantly on AS. At :12 Vino blows by AS and AC's wheel enters the frame from the right. At :13, a mere 4 seconds after AS's gear slipped, AC passes him.

To say that The acceleration of AC happened after he saw that AS was having trouble and was nearly stopped in the middle of the road is a lie.

This is what I see as well. In addition, Contador goes around a bend in the road and AS moves out of view very soon thereafter. Contador looks around a lot, so I cannot tell what he saw, but the first time I see that he looks back is when Andy S is not in view.

Also note this: In the first frame of that clip you can see AS in the first few moments of his attack, already gapping the group. A few frames later, still at 0:00, you can see Vino reacting while AC is behind Vino and others messing with something in his jersey back pockets since he's riding hands free. At :02 Vino is making progress, while AC is still "no hands".

At :09, you can also see Vino look back, presumably to make sure AC is okay and following, before AS slows and looks down at his gears. At this point Vino is about three bike lengths behind AS. Apparently satisfied by whatever he sees behind, Vino continues with his acceleration and passes the now-slowing AS at :12.

So, here is what we have:

:00 AS is attacking
:00 Vino reacting; AC is "busy" messing with something in his pockets
:02 Vino accelerating to catch AS; AC still busy
:04 AC is done messing around and commences his acceleration.
:06 AC is making quick progress, separated from AS only by Vino
:09 Vino looks back
:09 AS suddenly slows and looks down, presumably when his chain slips off
:12 Vino blows by AS on AS's right and AC has already nearly caught them as his wheel enters the frame.
:13 AC passes AS on AS's left


Clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP9OR-Pz2Yk

 

[Ninety5rpm]

Right here:

One persons freedom to choose does not invalidate another persons ethical considerations.
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Quite simple, really.
.

Sigh. I agree with your statement in general, but it applies necessarily only in a situation in which there is an ethical basis on which to make an ethical consideration, and this is not such a situation!

 

[dgodave]

Sigh. I agree with your statement in general, but it applies necessarily only in a situation in which there is an ethical basis on which to make an ethical consideration, and this is not such a situation!

Thats the part that arguable.
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Personally, I think the whole thing is totally blown out of proportion. AC should have slowed a bit, I think .... but given the circumstances, the hate and name calling is entirely unwarranted.
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Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill...
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[Steel4Ever]

Schleck is supposed to be a professional cyclist (ie. getting paid money to ride a bicycle). This would imply that he should know how to operate said piece of machinery/equipment.

Snapping a chain or ripping off a deraileur because your legs are applying massive torque is a "mechanical". Dropping a chain because you don't know how to change gears properly is amateurish.

Same goes for any "professional" rider who crashes a corner because they clip their pedal (ie. learn to ride a bike, pharmboy).

 

[RedsharkO]

Wait or not to wait... thats the dilema. Well, al least this drama keep the LA fanclub busy in the forum. Otherwise, they don´t have anymore to do here.

 

[MacRoadie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP9OR-Pz2Yk

Perfect view, head on with both hands clearly visible. Go to 00:45. Both hands on the hoods, no fingers on either lever. They only move (very clearly) at 00:47, AFTER the chain slips.

He wasn't shifting.

 

[Galic Ho]

He shouldn't have attacked, nor pulled. If SS or DS do, no one can blame him for following them. But Bertie was the one who attacked which was a cowardly move imo.

You have a short memory.

Alberto you have tarnishes the yellow, shame on you. I am sure you heard the news on the Radio and from the others riders. Going on when it isnt the yellow is okay but not today son. Wrong choice..........

DITO.

Apply your logic to stage three and Schleck and Cancellara, attacking not just the maillot jaune, but every GC contender when their own team mates crash (brother of Schleck) impeded the entire peloton on the cobbles. Andy hardly copped any flack. Did he wait? No. But when he's in yellow, DAAMMMMNNN! As Shannon Noll sang, "What about me?" That's right Andy it isn't fair, but you profited from a mistake your own team made in a major way. If all was fair, I'd say he still has another 20 seconds to lose, because he gained a minute on Contador, actually make that closer to another 35 seconds. Don't mention how he jumped Samu and Menchov.

This was racing. In the WC, if you're a striker and you move into the box and the centre back slips, do you wait for him to gain his footing or do you shoot? Grow up people. Schleck's fault. He dropped his chain, his fault. Race evened itself out and the soft little Luxembourger is carrying on like the brat he is. Stiff bickies Andy, you profited on Stage 2 and 3 and now the universe has evened itself out. The "Me, Me, Me" attitude shows his maturity.

Actually this makes the race more exciting. Schleck will have to make a solid attack. No more half-ar$ed nonsense. This means he might blow. Be good to watch, because if he doesn't want to drop to 3rd or 4th on Saturday he needs time.

As for those who no longer respect AC. You're shallow, shallow people. You'll get yours anytime soon as well.

 

[Big GMaC]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP9OR-Pz2Yk

Perfect view, head on with both hands clearly visible. Go to 00:45. Both hands on the hoods, no fingers on either lever. They only move (very clearly) at 00:47, AFTER the chain slips.

He wasn't shifting.

Maybe he was?

 

[barn yard]

nobody waited for the yellow jersey on the cobbles

 

[Hillavoider]

i cannot beleive there is even a debate about it, the race should have been neutralized by fabian cancerlara, even though he was down the hill they would have just had to wait for him to come up, then sit at the front like a gay poser and tell everyone that the precious little schlep is upset and dropped his chain.

 

[scribe]

nobody waited for the yellow jersey on the cobbles

They've given up on waiting for him 30 minutes back now.

 

[Carols]

Schleck would have done the same. He's like a little kid crying to mom. Contador was riding hard and saw a break not knowing that Schleck's chain fell off. Besides, Menchove was not about to stop for Schleck: he's just over a minute from Contador and Schleck.

All the greats who chimed in on this said that that's the way the game is played when your attacking the leader. I think this will make the tour even more fun to watch: crying baby boy Schleck vs big bad Alberto.

Andy has 7 mountains to prove he is the strongest. Let's just get the race on and stop the whining...................

 

[scribe]

Andy has 7 mountains to prove he is the strongest. Let's just get the race on and stop the whining...................

Dream on sister. There will be no Landis miracles this tour!

 

[Bennyl]

So even if it was a true mechanical and not Andy's fault, it was on the final climb when the contenders were racing. Can't remember exactly how he rode but Valverde did not stop for Evans at last years Vuelta, and that was huge bad luck it that instance and they were neck and neck in the race for the win at the time.

Andy may be disappointed but he should not whinge and get on with it. Especially in this years race when there were so many question marks over ettiquete during the first 3 stages. I don't think he should risk coming off as a sook and keep his mouth shut, ride like an animal and bank it in the memory for another day.

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

The problem isn't that Contador didn't stop and wait for Schleck, it's that he ATTACKED THE YELLOW JERSEY BECAUSE he had a MECHANICAL! That's classless and shameful!

 

[The mechanical attack]

Dream on sister. There will be no Landis miracles this tour!

Yep, AC should rap this up pretty big now. AS will be nervous as hell, knowing he has to make an absurdly big attack to win this thing, and AC will be sitting comfy knowing this and ready to exploit. Just one little attack from AC will finish off AS.

AC will win with several minutes to spare. This totally changes the outcome.

All those people saying AC will win by more than 37 seconds so what happened today makes no difference, don't understand how it works.

 

[yourwelcome]

I said it's not an ethical question because there is no basis from which to make an ethical decision.

You refer to a "standard of good/bad behavior" and the "standards for judgement". Clearly dentify what you mean by these phrases and I will retract what I've said.

There are no such standards that apply in this case. That's what I mean when I say there is no basis from which to make an ethical decision.

If you seriously need somebody to identify 'standards of good/bad behavior' for you, I pity anybody who needs to interact with you in the real world.

Of course, you knew perfectly well what was meant, and you were just engaging in some childish sophistry. At least, I hope so.

 

[Hillavoider]

The problem isn't that Contador didn't stop and wait for Schleck, it's that heATTACKED THE YELLOW JERSEY BECAUSE he had a MECHANICAL! That's classless and shameful!

AC was in full flight when schlep stuffed his gears, also did you notice that NO ONE stopped or waited, NO ONE.

did i just get trolled?

 

[rata de sentina]

The problem isn't that Contador didn't stop and wait for Schleck, it's that he ATTACKED THE YELLOW JERSEY BECAUSE he had a MECHANICAL! That's classless and shameful!

No, classless and shameful is someone making a fool of themselves on an internet forum by claiming insight into something about which they have absolutely no possibility of knowing. This is why people are debating whether he should of waited because only an intellectually challenged individual could conclude with any certainty his rationale for attacking without more evidence. Shouting and repeating oneself because one is being ignored also qualifies for classless and a bit shameful.

 

[rata de sentina]

AC was in full flight when schlep stuffed his gears, also did you notice that NO ONE stopped or waited, NO ONE.

did i just get trolled?

Yep, but that's OK, whackatroll can be fun.

 

[reyan12]

Had Contador not waited during early stages of the tour,Schleck would not be in yellow in the first place!!!Because they are leading in the cobbles Schleck never managed to wait for everyone.He even left his own brother.LOL!!!

 

[Ninety5rpm]

The problem isn't that Contador didn't stop and wait for Schleck, it's that he ATTACKED THE YELLOW JERSEY BECAUSE he had a MECHANICAL! That's classless and shameful!

Incorrect. AC was accelerating in response to AS's attack well before AS had the problem. AC passed AS just four seconds after AS first slowed.

 

[richwagmn]

Had Contador not waited during early stages of the tour,Schleck would not be in yellow in the first place!!!Because they are leading in the cobbles Schleck never managed to wait for everyone.He even left his own brother.LOL!!!

Yep, true though I'm for ending this stupid unwritten rule too. It's a race. Have a problem? Deal with it.

Name another racing event that stops racing when the leader has an issue?