Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Quick Five: Rest Day #1

1)Andy Schleck looks good. Damn good. Great acceleration yesterday to gap Contador and the others, and a fantastic kick to outsprint Sammy Sanchez, who is a good finisher. This kid is on form.

2)Lance is done. Yet another great champion has raced a Tour too many and it has proved his undoing - Armstrong at Morzine-Avoriaz was reminiscent of Indurain at Les Arcs or Merckx after Pra Loup. He has a great chance, now, to win the KOM classification, but he won't take it because he's too proud.

3)Contador has not convinced me. After a phenomenal job of work by Navarro on the final climb, he didn't attack, and didn't respond well when Schleck blasted off the front. The Contador of the last three years would have bridged that gap, sprinted past and won the stage.

4)Cav is done - no, he's back. After - God forbid! - four stages without a win, Mark Cavendish picked up a couple of stages as we expected. However, his pride has been his undoing in the green jersey, as he hasn't sprinted for the placings when it's been clear that the victory has gone. He could still win the maillot vert, but it will take some poor showing by Thor and several more stage wins - which are not guaranteed if Petacchi can get over the mountains.

5)Nobody knows tactics any more. Wiggins murdered his team yesterday for absolutely no reason at all, and then got dropped on the final climb. Garmin have set-up Cavendish at least once, probably twice. When Petacchi sprints around you, you have to go and grab his wheel right away. Don't ride behind guys who are getting musettes outside of the feed zone. This is basic stuff.

No comments: