Originally Posted by paperbackwriter

It's easy to show good sportsmanship when you already have the race in the bag.

Anyway, Movistar aren't complaining that Sky didn't wait. However not only Movistar but also other guys do complain that Sky were riding dangerously to form echelons and first they caused the crash, and then started pushing at the front.

Hansen: "I don't mind Team Sky putting it in the gutter, but how about next time you don't slam us in the gutter. I'm going for an X Ray...."

Terpstra: "Thought I would be ok in the wheels of the Movistar guys. Until Sky rode them to the ground. "

I don't think it was fine what Sky did, even considering Movistar's past. If Valverde wasn't the leader, it would be more understandable (still wouldn't hurt to wait, little was at stake- there was at least one other GC guy involved and they were just starting their action which was probably aimed at Contador anyway, and Contador was on Froome's wheel after the crash so it was unlikely to work). But what makes it even less fine is that when Movistar didn't wait, it's not like Sky said "that's racing"- they were whining about how unfair it is and talking about always respecting the unwritten rules themselves. If you care about good sportsmanship, you can't really choose when do you apply it and when you're free to be an ***.
Besides, Sky guys said they didn't know Valverde crashed. Really? Rodriguez said Katusha was working at first but then stopped because Intxausti informed the leaders that Valverde was behind.

More than anything though, I think it was stupid. Most teams are against Sky now and I'm pretty sure Froome will have to race against Spanish coalition. Good luck with that. Won't be the first time Contador and Valverde smash the competition working together.

Oh, and one more thing- perhaps one could say that what goes around, comes around for Movistar- but did Valverde in particular deserve it? He knows his fair play. Just one example- Dauphine 2009. He attacked with Szmyd on Mt Ventoux and they made an agreement that if everything goes well, Szmyd will take the stage and Valverde the yellow jersey. The difference was big enough for Valverde to indeed take leadership from Evans but close to the top, Szmyd blew completely. It would be okay for Valverde to go for the stage as well in this situation, especially since he was also going after time and this way he'd have gained more. But still he practically stopped until Szmyd passed him.