[QUOTE=harlond]
Originally Posted by Helmet Head
But the steeper the climb, the bigger the advantage the pure climbers have. It's not a matter of whether the peloton allows Rasmussen to ride away - the fact is that he can./QUOTE]My memory could be faulty, but I don't recall any stage of the TdF in which Rasmussen has gained any significant amount of time on the main contenders except through a long breakaway. This group of contenders doesn't measure up to those of years past--after all, it's missing Ullrich, Basso, Landis, etc.--so maybe Rasmussen has an edge that will allow him to get away. Maybe.
Maybe if there is absolutely no organized chase again. Rasmusin [sic] rode off the front uncontested and only poor Moreau tried to organize an effective chase. He will be marked on the first HC climb and that will be it for him. If he hasn't already made an alliance with another team (or two!) to secure the polk-dot jersey he's a moron.