Tour de France 2010

[AW?]

Didn't like that from Contador today, attacking when Schlecks chain went. Schleck was just about to go for it as well.

That last descent was insane, it was so narrow.

 

[Azazello]

I missed today's but that descent sounds mental - they can get up to 60-70 mph. Crazy - I've not gone much beyond 45mph downhill.

 

[llamafarmer]

The descent looked terrifying! I haven't really made my mind up about the Schleck/Contador incident yet - it wasn't a crash or a mechanical - Schleck made an error shifting and dropped his chain

 

[Marty]

There is a chance Contador may not have known that Schleck's chain had dropped until he was already way past. Some experts have speculated that he should've waited at the top but come on, I know cycling's supposed to be a bit of a gentleman's sport but that was never going to happen.

 

[AW?]

Hmm all things considered i could be wrong. Just seems so unfair but that's racing i suppose. I hope Schleck comes back from this. I'd quite like him to win it.

 

[llamafarmer]

It seems to have completely split opinion - the two commentators on itv disagreed about whether AC should have waited and Chris Boardman said he couldn't really make his mind up either way :lol:

I just hope Schleck and his 'stomach full of anger' can do enough to put the result in doubt and make sure we get an exciting end to a really exciting tour!

 

[Max_Junglie]

I'm with AW on this one - Contador & the others should have done the honourable thing & waited - but Schleck will go for it now, so could be some fireworks on the Tourmalet today!

 

[Marty]

Well, that's that then. Schleck just didn't quite have the energy to shake Contador with a quick burst today. Was nice of Contador to give Schleck the stage win though, there was clearly an agreement there.

 

[llamafarmer]

Epic day in the mountains today, those two are so far ahead of the rest it's incredible and at the end of the day it's only the time trial that's going to split them anyway.

Contador had to let Schleck have the stage win today, I think everyone would have lost a lot of respect for him if he'd sat on his wheel the whole way up only to jump him at the finish. Good to see the mutual respect at the end too.

 

[AW?]

It's a shame Contador got the yellow jersey before the time trial. Would have been very exciting the build up to those two. Has Schleck got a chance still? I'm not too knowledgable about these new riders yet.

 

[Marty]

Schleck's not as good a time trialist as Contador, but the second last stage in the Tour quite often pops up with some surprises. I expect Contador to take this, but don't think Schleck will be as far behind as he normally would be.

 

[Marty]

Bloody hell, Schleck's putting up a hell of a fight here. Six seconds faster than Contador a third into the race, Contador's lead down to two seconds!

 

[Azazello]

Looks like it's Contador's again.

 

[Marty]

Yea, Schleck put up a good fight but Contador's won this. Nobody ever attacks the yellow on Champs Elysees.

 

[AW?]

Yep all Contadors then. Last stage is more of a ceremony than a stage. All about the green jersey now then. C'mon Cavendish you can do it!

 

[Son_Of]

Yep all Contadors then. Last stage is more of a ceremony than a stage. All about the green jersey now then. C'mon Cavendish you can do it!

really? i think he can win the sprints, but with the points lead thor and pettachi have i don't think Cav will get the jersey. he needs them to fuck up now. impressive haul of stage wins he's collecting though

 

[Marty]

Petacchi has to fuck up for Thor to have a propr chance as Thor probably doesn't have that kind of sprint in him at the moment, but both have to fuck up in a major way for Cav to win green. I think Cav will win the stage but Petacchi will win the green. Gutted for Thor but I just don't think he's quite strong enough, the broken collarbone he had a couple of months ago seriously impeded his sprint-specific training programme.

 

[Son_Of]

i really hope Schleck wins one year.

he's fought very well this year. considering his brother Frank crashed out early, and would've been helping him as much as possible, he had that mechanical where contador stole 30-odd seconds and he did very well in the TT considering contador is regarded as much stronger trialist. in fact the day before the TT, andy had a much more punishing day, trying to lose contador up the tormalet.

but alberto was very strong, in a couple of hilly stages where the pundits were wondering how much time schleck could gain over him, he managed to stick with him