As I posted in another post a page or two back.
I think this TdF is giving AC a slap of reality. This is his first TdF without adult leadership.
What lost him time in the first week was not “juice” but tactics and lack of attention.
I think he started to believe his own press and was going for the two-fer this year of the Giro and the TdF. And winning the Giro took a lot out of him.
I bet right now he’s hoping he can just hang on a day or two to get his climbing legs back. Otherwise he just might miss the podium in France.
All true and good points. There hasn’t been that much discussion of the Giro on the coverage as a reason AC is back but they think he still has a shot at the podium so I guess those comments are reserved for the ITT when he doesn’t make up all his lost time. Then there will be all sorts of opinions as to why he didn’t succeed this year the way he has in the past. I personally think the Giro is most definitely a factor. They have been talking about how Cadel didn’t wear himself out this spring and is such in much better form.
You are also correct that it was lack of attention that caused the loss of time the first day. What AC was doing hanging out in the middle/ back of the peloton on the first day (when all the riders were “twitchy”) is anyone’s guess. His team and his manager should have been all over him since he didn’t have enough sense himself to get up front.
p.s. The UCI has not yet come out with their ruling on AC’s appeal. This entire discussion could become moot if they rule against him b/c he’d have to vacate last year’s TdF and the Giro.
Also neither of the Schleck brothers rode the Giro further enforcing the rationale behind skipping it to stay strong.