Originally Posted by
mollusk
I respectfully disagree. The problem with Frank going earlier is that he might help Evans get a few seconds on Andy if Cadel either gets his wheel (small chance given how hard Cadel worked and the type of rider that he is) or the sudden inspiration to ride a wee bit harder at the end (more likely scenario). It looked to me like all Frank wanted was the few seconds that Evans had over him and he got them.
Here is the million $ question: What will the "contenders" do tomorrow if Frank S goes off the front early?
They chase.
My thought on Francis: If I'm Frank I go if I have the legs and see if I can get the gap. If not I sit up. Cadel isn't going to chase harder because I'm going too...he's already about redlined chasing the guy 3 minutes up the road for a while now. Worst case I sit up, best case he cracks trying to grab my wheel, 2nd best is I go and grab a lot more time. I just don't think he had it in him to sustain an long attack against Cadel's pace, which was damn hard.
Gotta love this race in any case.