Some of it is what does it take to earn it? Hincapie was driving the breakaway for all of what I watched. OK, he didn’t go with Ivanov but it didn’t look like anyone else in the breakaway could either. Maybe he could have lifted the rest of the breakaway those needed six seconds maybe he couldn’t.
On the other hand, AG2R was incapable of closing the gap. Nocentini isn’t a GC threat. Hincapie really isn’t either. So while Garmin does have two riders in the top ten only Vande Velde is a confirmed GC contender (seemingly over his crash) Wiggins is not as yet. The overall damage of having Vande Velde down 1:30 to Hincapie as opposed to down 1:24 to Nocentini isn’t that big a deal.
Astana with the exception of Contador didn’t make a move to keep Nocentini out of yellow. Garmin working for no obvious reason to keep someone who isn’t a GC contender out of yellow served no real purpose. Add to that the rider they kept out of yellow is George Hincapie it is easy to understand how fans and other riders are upset at the move. Especially Lance Armstrong who definitely owes Hincapie a lot. Probably more than can be quantified.
If it had been any other rider losing out on the yellow I don’t think there would be near the outcry.
Nicely said!
GH is a class guy who was far more than Lance's domestique. He's held his own for 14 Tours. Garmin should learn respect. I hope they have a bad day in the mountains.
When George was talking right after the race, he wasn’t aware that Astana pulled back and ended up not being the team setting the pace of the peloton? right?
Cause Phil & Paul spent quite a lot of time during the live race talking about how Astana was working hard to pull the breakaway back.
So.... I’m confused :)