For what it's worth, Contador said that he really didn't know Shleck had a mechanical, and that he was constantly checking behind to see where AS was. When he heard AS had had a mechanical, it was too late and the race was on (dixit l'Equipe).

We get it. You have huge balls.

Your irrelevent 'mad descending skillz' aside, it's still a moot point. Andy shouldn't have been put that position in the first place. I agree that he's not a great descender, but if you watched the stage today, he did well for himself and took a lot of risks. JVB was working hard to stick on him - and he's normally a much better bike handler. The top was moderately technical, but then it straightened out for quite awhile. Over 20 kilometers, drafting makes a difference on any descent, and especially today on the lower parts of the descent. Having Sammy Sanchez's line (unanimously one of the best descenders in the business) to follow on the technical portion isn't so bad either.

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Twitter | Kancman | Blog

Contador = Punk

He attacked first and the others followed his lead. If he had class and was a leader he would have had everyone slow down and wait.

Do you believe that? I think you posted that you saw the replay. I don't buy it.

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f/k/a mclamb6

Not sure anyone is going to win the wait/no-wait debate.

Having said that Andy should not have been in that position in the first place. He seems to be the strongest, but lacks confidence. To many games. When his last domestique moved off the front, he should have gone and not looked back, kept the hammer down till the top. If he had chain problems lower down the slope, more likely all would have come back together. It's like he is marking AC till the time trial and then we all know what is going to happen then. In retrospect, this may be the best thing to happen to Andy. "Anger in the belly", how long where you going to wait to unleash the beast?

Whatever. Shocking however that so many of you think AC should have waited for a guy who needs 30 seconds to put a freaking chain on, and probably a chain dropped by a mis-timed shift. This is all on Schlek, and as Liggett says there is no reason to wait for anyone within the last 20K of a race. None.

I don't really know. From the replay it's hard to say...I mean, watching that comfortably in a chair, it's hard to say. But when you're the one hammering things appear different.

Moreover, why not believe him? There are a lot of folks on this forum who have believed things a lot more unbelievable than AC not noticing... ;-)

You must really hate Lance to bring him into this discussion. Kind of like the people blaming Bush for the oil spill. Contador = Punk

How come AC didn't just descend away from the Schleck brothers last year on stage 17 in the final descent into Le Grand-Bornand?

http://www.broadbandsports.com/node/28172&gvsm=1

Yup, just like Andy should have told Fabian to hold off on the cobbles of Stage 3 when Contador had a broken rear wheel and rode the last 30km to lose 41 seconds...?

Shit happens. Andy dropped his chain... rookie move.

I don't hate Lance. But I like seeing how some here like to label people who disagree 'haters' right away.
Most folks here started following cycling in 99 (or 2000). And know pretty much nothing about cycling, aside from the comments of Liggett and Sherwen, who happen to really lack any insight.

It was my impression he was going to wait until Menchov and Sanchez took off.

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Frank,
An original Ironman and the Inventor of PowerCranks

Wait, I thought he lost the time because of the descent, not because of the mechanical. Which is it?

And there's a difference between stopping (no one is arguing he should've stopped) and not attacking.

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f/k/a mclamb6

My god this is really getting dumb. Who was in yellow genius? Any reason for him to take risks and ride away from people who were BEHIND him. And you jokers call me noob. Triathletes. Geesh.

I have no pity for someone who doesn't ride with a chain watcher.

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"Yeah you point a finger back far enough and some germ gets blamed for splitting in two."

Colonel Saul Tigh from Battlestar Galactica

We can debate this indefinitely, but the bottom line is, none of us are professional bike racers, and I think we may need to defer to their sentiments on this - which I imagine will also be divided. Ligget, as entertaining as he is, was not a professional bike racer. Interesting that Sherwin, who was, disagreed with AC's move.

I was watching Eurosport and Sean Kelly said without hesitation that it was unequivocally the wrong thing to do.

I think it'll be interesting to see comments from the current peleton on. We already saw how the French fans felt about it...

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Twitter | Kancman | Blog

You must be new here...its his agenda in all cycling related posts. For the past 9yrs or so its been the same:

1. Demean Lance.
2. Tell american's they don't know cycling (strawman argument to reinforce point 1)
3. Defend/elevate Condator (or other great non-american rider at the time or historical cycling figures) while taking snide shots at Lance.
4. Insult VS coverage and preach that real cyclists watch an international feed all the while quoting Ligget and Sherwin (also making point 1 easier).
5. Demean Lance.

I can probably write his posts for him if he wants to give me his password. ;)

And in my first post I also said it would have been better if he had waited. Even Contador didn't think it was the right thing to do if you listen to his comments after. He said he sat up after he found out (which is clearly an admission that sitting up was the right thing to do. But, fact remains. Andy really doesn't descend worth a shit. And he really rode like a complete pussy the last two days. He attacks with so little mountain left that even if AC counters he would have a hard time getting yellow, yet knowing all along he will only have 2 stages left to put time into AC that he needs come the final TT. Does AS really believe he can TT. He TT's as well as he puts his chain on. He's not riding to win the TDF despite what he says. He's riding to hold the yellow as long as he can. He rode like a pussy yesterday and today.

Fixed that for you ;-)

Sergio

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Note: English is not my first language. Please read this translated post considering that.

Well, I can disagree with what AC did and it has nothing to do with LA. That's all I'm saying. In a sport historically full of dopers (ie, cheaters), it's interesting that they typically don't attack someone having a bio break or mechanical failure. This is one area where the group normally has class and ethics and it's an unwritten law that this type of thing is not done. In a way, you could say that what AC did was worse than doping. They all look the other way regarding doping but an act like this could stain AC forever in the eyes of his fellow riders.

Don't forget that Voekler was putting time into the Saxo-led peloton. AC doesn't need to go. Schlek does. But he waits to within 2 miles of the summit to attack? Even if he gets away he still gets caught on the downhill. Schlek was riding not to lose the yellow, not to win the tour. He will need a lot more "anger in the belly" if he wants to win.

And do you guys really think being booed bothers AC???? He eats up the bad boy role. Look at how much it hurt him last year to be despised - he just takes out the pistols and annoys the shit out of everyone, and uses it to his advantage.

AS's post on twitter:

"I lost yellow today!shit happens but the race is not over yet!!!I be back!"

Anybody read or hear anything else from him on how he dropped his chain?

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LOL!

Any comments from LA on this yet? LA should organize Radioshack to ride for Schleck now. Go Team Radioschleck!

Moreover, why not believe him? There are a lot of folks on this forum who have believed things a lot more unbelievable than AC not noticing... ;-)

AS says he wouldn't have attacked and you dismiss that out of hand but you believe AC?

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"Are you sure we're going fast enough?" - Emil Zatopek

Francois, How was Schlecks interview in French? The English on was great, he was pissed. Said he couldn't wait to get revenge. Had he calmed down when speaking to European reporters?