Posted on 07/04/2009 8:09:14 AM PDT by Mom MD
Today is day one! Armstrong riding. Astana is back! Predictions? Other comments? Does someone have the ping list from last year?
Geez. I barely touched it and it posted twice. Sorry!
Are you suggesting ASNR (Advanced Spanish Nutritional Regimen)?
Looked like AC had it all over LA today, as well as in Andorra, in retrospect. The 'best riders in the world' hangers-on held back today and gave LA & GH no help. Whatabunchapoosies.
That’s OK, it helps the post count! ;)
Post Stage Analysis
Contador Rides Away to Stage Win and Yellow Jersey
Contador calls today "a liberation," Armstrong trails by over a minute
Alberto Contador rode away from the field today on the final climb to Verbier. The Spanish climber, who won the 2007 Tour de France, won the stage and took over the race lead. His team-mate American Lance Armstrong suffered on the climb, but still holds second in the general classification. Bradley Wiggins of Garmin-Slipstream now sits third 1:46 behind Alberto Contador. As expected, this mountain stage reshuffled the hierarchy in this Tour de France. Tomorrow’s a rest day, then it’s back into the mountains.
The Story
It all came down to the final climb today, though a series of breakaway attempts animated the early kilometers of the stage. Over the first two climbs of the day, Franco Pellizotti and Egoi Martinez continued their battle in the mountains classification. Pellizotti got the better of Martinez in both exchanges and has now added to his lead. Astana, meanwhile, kept tight control over the race, and never allowed the assorted escapes to gain much road.
Just past kilometer 50, Ryder Hesjdahl of Garmin-Slipstream attacked from a twelve rider escape which was then dangling just 25 seconds ahead of the Astana-driven field. Fabian Cancellara of Saxo Bank, David Moncoutié of Cofidis, Jurgen van den Broeck of Silence-Lotto, Mikel Astarloza of Euskaltel-Euskadi, José Ivan Gutierrez of Caisse d'Épargne, Amaël Moinard of Cofidis, Simon Spilak of Lampre-Ngc, and Pierrick Fédrigo of Bbox Bouygues chased after the Canadian. Over the summit of the Côte de Prévonloup, the group came together. With the vigorous encouragement of his team manager, Juan Antonio Flecha of Rabobank soon bridged across to the group and the nine steadily rode away from the main field. On the Col des Mosses with 70 kilometers to race, the break held an advantage of 4:05 over the main field. Astana continued to do the majority of the chasing, as Astarloza became the virtual Yellow Jersey.
Through the long valley on the road to the final climb to Verbier, Astana continued to work on the front and the gap to the break began to diminish steadily. With 20 kilometers to go and the gap shrinking all the time, Simon Spilak of Lampre-Ngc attacked the break and set off alone. Behind, Liquigas-Doimo went to the front to protect the mountains lead of Franco Pellizotti and to set up their general classification hopes Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger. With breakaway rider Pierrick Fédrigo sitting third in the mountains classification, Liquigas wanted to be certain that the escape did not survive to the finish.
Inside 10 kilometers to go, Mikel Astarloza, Jurgen van den Broeck, Fabian Cancellara, Ryder Hesjdahl, and Pierrick Fédrigo chased Spilak, who remained alone out in front. The chase had only one minute gap over the fast-closing main field, while Spilak rode 40 seconds ahead of the chase. Plainly, it would be all back together on the final climb.
As Spilak made the left-hand turn onto the climb, Saxo Bank came to the front and David Millar brought his Garmin-Slipstream team-mates Bradley Wiggins and Christian Vandevelde into position near the front. As the main field caught the break, Cancellara went to the front and put in a hard effort for his Saxo Bank team. Saxo Bank clearly had ideas for this stage and as they began the climb, the Danish team rode a hard tempo on the front. Riders began to slip backwards, including last year’s Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, who often does not shine during the first big accelerations of a mountain stage. Indeed, the Spanish climber steadily rode his way back into the general classification battle later in the climb. Yellow Jersey Rinaldo Nocentini also dropped off the pace, and said a fond adio to the race lead he has held for the last week.
The first attack came from Fränk Schleck and Alberto Contador proved quick to jump on to the wheel of the rider from Luxemburg. Armstrong then brought the rest of the group up to the two leaders. Vincenzo Nibali, Roman Kreuziger, Andreas Klöden, Bradley Wiggins, Christian Vandevelde, and Andy Schleck were among the riders who remained in this elite group, as the race already began to break apart.
As the group came back together, Alberto Contador saw his opportunity and took it. With his trademark acceleration, the Spanish climber attacked hard out of the favorites group. The gap opened up immediately and no could follow. In a replay of the finish on Arcalís, Andy Schleck soon set off in pursuit of Contador, but could not close the gap.
Behind, Andreas Klöden began setting tempo with Armstrong on his wheel. Fränk Schleck, Bradley Wiggins, Cadel Evans, and Vincenzo Nibali also sat in the group, benefitting from the pace-making from Klöden. With approximately 5 kilometers to go, Contador, his earpiece wafting in the breeze, held a 22 second advantage over Andy Schleck and a 44 second advantage over the chase group led by his team-mate Andreas Klöden. Carlos Sastre, meanwhile, steadily climbed his way back toward the chase group, while Vandevelde dropped back.
With 3 kilometers to race, Bradley Wiggins, the pursuit champion turned stage racer, attacked from the chase group. Fränk Schleck countered, and went on alone. Klöden continued to work for Armstrong with Vincenzo Nibali sitting on. Nibali then scooted away and joined Wiggins. Fränk Schleck, Bradley Wiggins, and Vincenzo Nibali soon joined forces, and rode away from the Armstrong-Klöden group. Cadel Evans also began to ride away from the Armstrong group, though he could not reach the chase group. The Australian later said he was on a bad day. From behind, meanwhile, Carlos Sastre climbed up to the Armstrong group and continued on alone. Just short of the finish, Sastre caught the threesome of Wiggins, Schleck, and Nibali.
Up ahead, Alberto Contador crossed the line alone and made his trademark gun-fire victory salute. Andy Schleck followed 43 seconds later. With just under 1 kilometer to race, Vincenzo Nibali sprinted free of the Wiggins group and took third on the stage, while Wiggins, Fränk Schleck, and Sastre crossed together at 1:06 behind Contador. Evans finished 20 seconds later. Then came Armstrong and Klöden together. In the final meters, Klöden opened a small gap over Armstrong and finished ahead of the American by 6 seconds. Rinaldo Nocentini, meanwhile, who began the day in the Yellow Jersey, finished 19th, 2:36 behind Contador. Though he conceded the race lead, Nocentini rode well enough to remain in the top ten in the general classification.
After the stage, Contador said that he had not intended to attack so early in the climb. “Looking at the situation, I decided to attack. I am very happy about the gap I opened up on my rivals,” he said. The fast pace at the bottom of the climb set by Saxo Bank suited the Spanish climber well. “I wanted to have a fast pace at the start of the climb,” he explained. Of his team’s leadership situation, Contador commented, “I think that the differences now in the Astana team are pretty big, and I think the team now needs to back me.” “Yes, he was my idol,” said Contador of team-mate Lance Armstrong. “But I don’t put a lot of importance on dropping him. He’s just like any other rival,” concluded the new race leader. Contador last received the Yellow Jersey when Michael Rasmussen was ejected from the race. “I am very happy to win the jersey on the road and in a different manner than the last time,” Contador said today.
Perhaps more surprising than Contador’s big attack today was the ride of Bradley Wiggins of Garmin-Slipstream. The two-time Olympic gold medalist in the pursuit climbed with an elite group today on this slopes of Verbier and showed for the first time that he might be able to hold a high general classification position all the way to Paris. The transition from the pursuit is not unprecedented. Bradley McGee made a similar transition and placed in the top ten at the Giro d’Italia, before injury derailed his career. After the stage today, Wiggins said, “I rode fearlessly.” From the car, his sports director Matt White told him to “keep pushing,” and Wiggins has ridden into third place in the general classification. “The signs are good for a podium place in Paris,” Wiggins concluded and he dedicated his efforts to his wife and family.
I think AC is extremely physically gifted. If anyone knows where his “numbers” are I would like to see them. I would guess his V02 max is very similar to Lance’s. The changes in Lance were to his overall mass. If Contador was never as big to begin with he wouldn’t need to lose weight. They talked about the same with Wiggins how he has lost I believe 12Kg (26lbs), and look what that has done for him. I certainly hope he is clean. I like believing that using physical gifts to the max and working hard can get those results.
I would like to see Lance make a comeback, and if this had been 5 years ago I would expect him too. However it isn’t and they are on the same team. I think Lance will ride to get AC the win foremost and get himself on the podium second.
From appearances Andy Schleck is the only one who can come close to riding with AC in the mountains, but he cannot match him straight out on acceleration. It would take an impressive move by the Frank and Andy to get the jump on AC, Lance and Kloden. I suppose it can be done, but will be very hard to do.
I hope Lance keeps respectably close so when the “in their prime who was better” discussion comes up all it takes is pointing to Lance staying close out of his prime to end the debate.
” Contador has the makings of a multi tour winner after this one.
He’ll be a multi-tour winner after this one. He won in 2007. “
Thanks I knew that. I meant to say multiple wins in a row.
What do you think?
” I’m really having a hard time with the results of today’s stage. Lance looks gaunt. I know AC rode well- really well- but I’m not giving up on Lance yet. Maybe he is hoping to take off on Mt Ventoux and/or the ITT.
I just won’t give up on him yet.
I am also suspicious of AC. When Lance rode up mountains like that, it was b/c he had been through chemo which had changed his body. He was physiologically different. AC has not been through a radical change like that. How can he possibly climb like that against the best riders in the world? Is he some sort of freak of nature?”
Until proven otherwise I’ll give him the benefit of being a superior athlete....
He looks like Lance in his prime with that ability to separate from the pack on a climb and keep it going until the end.
Hey, patriotspride. He certainly looks to have the right stuff, and he’s a good age to start it. All he needs is a good team around him, I think.
” All he needs is a good team around him, I think.”
That will be the interesting part of next year if Lance has Nike as a sponsor, and Alberto choses to go elsewhere.
To me Astana is gone after this year.
Seems like the country could sell a few nooks back to the Ruskies and have plenty to fund the team!
I thought Astana and Saxo Bank pulled the pack out pretty fast so there wasn't too much left when Contador broke. Andy Schleck wasn't expecting him to leave so early. Well played by Astana.
luv2ski
It seems to me there have always been similar types of exhilarating climbers, but Contador is also a good time trialer which makes him difficult to beat in the GC and gets him more press.
Bradley Wiggins really surprised me. Garmin should give him some help against Lance and Kloeden.
Wiggins had to lose weight to help him climb, I think the ideal for climbers is about 2 lbs per inch of height. Contador is probably around there naturally, thus the exceptional climbing prowess.
Good points, longjack. My epithet was directed toward the wheelsuckers that were behind LA, but maybe they were just tired.
I couldn’t be more tickled pink at today’s results.
:-)
Big Contador fan, are you?
Not specifically; not really. I just didn’t want this to become Tour de Lance. I was pleased to see he lived up to his promise that the team comes first (in his post-race interview). And I think Contador proved he deserves the yellow. I’m still a little murky on what happened to George, but, I bet he can be coaxed into a 2010 run on the new Livestrong team.
Stage 16, 159 km from Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, is tomorrow, July 21.
The Stage includes climes to Grand-Saint-Bernard Pass (HC) and Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard (Cat 1).
Lets hope they find their funding another way
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