Originally Posted by
totalnewbie
2. During the same stage, towards the end, Contador pat the back of the Schlecks more than a few times (I am assuming he's saying something like 'the win is yours') Is he doing that so that the Schlecks could relax and therefore not out-exhaust one another for no apparent reason?
Contador was refusing to work with the Schlecks — they are the ones who needed the time the most, and so he was just sitting on wheels for the descent and final push. When they'd try to get him to take a turn on the front, he'd just wave them through (or give them a little push on the bum). No reason for him to work. At least, that's how I saw it.