Originally Posted by
waitasec
he went from 3rd (podium) to 7th because fo a TT. I think he had incentive for that TT.
Incentive perhaps, hope no way. To stay on hte podium he would have had to stay within about a minute of Jan in an ITT. You can count the guys who managed that on the day on one hand. Also there is a difference between what a non TT guy can do when by good fortune he finds himself highly placed, but poorly prepaired and waht he can do when he finds himself well placed and well prepaired.
This is not to say he will win a TT or even come close, that would be a joke. But he may be able to limit his losses and the day after the first TT is a very nasty mountian stage. That combo may crack a lot of riders. But the combo gives him a chance. I won't write him off until Sunday unless he cracks in the TT.