fly:yes/land:no

no gifts.

ridethecliche

Because he's got some dignity in him?

Th Schlecks did ALL the freaking work and towed him up the mountain and down to the finish. He should give them the win.

OTOH, I think it would have been awesome to see the schlecks sprint each other for the win. It seems like it's something brothers would do for sport.

Wasn't a gift. It was a payment.

botto 

dude, how long have you been following pro cycling?

rankin116

Rough day for Wiggins, but still kept it very respectable!

Ryleeryno

grammar nazi

Grumpy McTrumpy

I wonder if Kloden thinks that.

carlfreddy

Contador took a gamble to try and shake the brothers Schleck, he lost and wound up dropping his teammate.

Was it a tactical error? Yes.

Was it a :middlefinger: to his team and teammate? I seriously doubt it.

Flatballer

If he thought he could drop Andy Schleck without dropping Kloeden at the same time, he's an idiot.

Dubbayoo

+1

Grumpy McTrumpy

I seriously doubt Johann would have had him attack there, with a 15km descent to the line. I don't think he was saying F.U. to Kloden. I think Bert was just trying to show the world how strong he is (and how stupid as well).

Like a kid with a gun.

carlfreddy

He's a F'n climber, doesn't really think about the descent.

It was clearly a tactical error, but in the end it didn't hurt his overall lead of the race. His position as team leader has clearly been established, so I'm trying to figure out why its such an issue that he dropped Kloeden.

Grumpy McTrumpy

because Kloden would have been a great chance to get the stage win, especially after forcing both Schlecks to do all the work.

Flatballer

Gee, maybe because Kloden was probably going to be on the podium with him? If Contador doesn't attack, Kloden finishes with them and moves into 2nd overall, unless the Schlecks attack towards the end, and Kloden comes in 30 seconds back or whatever. Either way, Kloden and Armstrong will both beat the Schlecks tomorrow, and if Contador hadn't attacked there is a good chance it would've been Astana 1-2-3 after the ITT.

Whether they could've kept it that way after Ventoux is up for discussion.

Grumpy McTrumpy

not to mention: Kloden may have lost a podium position in the overall because of Bert's attack.

ridethecliche

Hence the 'some dignity' bit.

Nick29

Given the drama within Astana and the fact that the team probably won't have a lot of these guys on it next year, what are the odds that Contador sees a team goal of having three guys on the podium as diminishing his yellow jersey?

Flatballer

So, is the Green Jersey firmly in the grasp of Hushovd? There are only a handful of intermediate sprints, plus the finish in Paris left for grabs, and he has quite a lead right now. He will likely be able to extend it on Stage 19 when Cav dissapears and in the run up to Ventoux on 20.

Flatballer

Well, the excitement has certainly returned. Still 2 great stages and 2 somewhat interesting stages to come.

Tomorrow will be important, not so much for Contador, but for those behind him.

therhodeo

I didn't see Contadors attack as malicious towards Kloden just not smart.

fatallightning

RT @LeviLeipheimer: If Andreas finishes 4th in GC by less than 2' from 3rd, we know where he lost it. . .15 minutes ago from UberTwitter
lancearmstrong

MitchellH

Some things are self-evident.

MitchellH

So, is there anyone that can beat Cancellara in the ITT tomorrow?

Grumpy McTrumpy

time for my wild-ass guesses for the final GC:

1. Contador
2. Armstrong
3. A Schleck

I pick Armstrong to win the Ventoux. this will probably get me laughed at. I don't care. He has always been very vocal about really wanting a Ventoux win (ever since he sat up for Pantani). He has also shown that (with the right motivation) he still has some of the magic left.

Lithuania

crazy or not im starting to believe lance could win the ventoux stage

Second Mouse

It'll be interesting to see if Sastre was out of gas today or if he was just saving himself for Ventoux.