AC was covering AS who attacked first. Then AS had the chain issue. That is different form AS riding along, having the chain issue and AC deciding to attack. Andy Schleck messed up his attack. Its race on when you go on the attack. IMO, its poor sportsmanship on Andy's part to even complain about it. He attacked and, for the most part, caused his issue. Why should anyone wait for him? That just doesn't make sense. It makes a helluva lot less sense than him holding up after his brother crashed and causes a majors split in the peloton. Nope Fabian and Andy went ahead and drilled it.

Look the point is that there are racing incidents throughout a 3 week bike race. Incidents that often no fault of the rider. Again you can't ignore the fact that AS took advantage of a crash situation that AC had no part of. Most of the peloton got caught behind it. AS gained time from it. When AS's chain fell off, he was attacking. He either had a mechanical break or caused it himself. He had another one just a few week ago. You can't call foul on one sportsmanship issue and disregard another because it goes in favor of your guy. Sportsmanship isn't a one way street.

No, I'm not saying doping should be ignored. What I'm saying is, I'm not going to get all worked up over it. We don't know who is or who isn't doing it. There is a organizing body that oversees drug testing. If they say someone can ride or can't, that's all I worry about. Going on whining about AC shouldn't be riding is a moot point because he is allowed to ride until the appeal is heard. There is still a possibility that he could be banned and stripped of results. Until that happens, I'm not going to worry about it. And if it does, then to bad for AC. You cheat, get caught, suffer the consequences.

AC could have sat up as Vino did. I do think send Cancellara up to drive the race after AC got stuck behind the crash was low. Really, it's a different time. Look at Cavendish. He's 90% talk, 10% class. He spends a lot of time talking about how all the great cyclists are really competing with themselves but as soon as he gets beat on a sprint he sits down and quits. Say what you want about the perennial second of Lance's years. He always rode his best, even when losing. And he didn't get in front of the camera to give a speech on fairness. Different times.

Yeah, maybe so. But then we do have more media coverage than we ever had. (This comment is for sports in general) TV cameras today catch more than what was caught even a decade ago. More interviews. Everything going straight to the internet. Everyone has a blog of FB page about something. I think we just know more. I don't think the athletes have really changed. Its how we view them. Have politicians really changed? Or is it that we now see every little slip up that they make on a daily basis.

With out of the race stuff, yeah. There were plenty of cameras on Ulrich during the Tour. He never sat up and just quit. Ulrich would ride up mountains as best he could when he got dropped. Cavendish sits up and quits when someone passes him rather than sprint another five seconds. It's entirely possible Cavendish, despite what he says, really doesn't care about the green jersey and is just there to win stages. Why even contest the sprint point then?

You are spot on here. It is a different time now. I don't think Schleck, or anyone else would wait if anyone else (especially AC) had technical difficulties. I think that day has passed. Contador gets a lot of the blame/credit for that, depending on your view. I don't really care how they do it(wait or not), but everyone needs to be on the same page.

Jesus. Every single time something delays a favorite and other riders don't get off their bikes and have a spot of tea while waiting for him to catch up there is this stupid endless argument about who should have waited.

You misunderstand this "unwritten rule."

It looks like Saxo-Sunguard is requesting that the UCI review stage one in light of the additional time lost in the final 3km, because of the 2nd crash which blocked the road and held up the chase. The hope is that the Contador group (which also contained Sammy Sanchez and Ryder Hesjedal, among others) will have their total time reduced from 1:20 to 35s, which was the gap was before they were held up by that 2nd crash.

I don't think anything will come out of this 'appeal', but I wanted to let you guys know.


Link (it's in Spanish):
http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo/...asdascic_2/Tes

Comparing Ullrich to Cav isn't an accurate comparison. Ullrich = Schleck (at this point of his career). Although, comparatively, Andy isn't in Jan's class yet. Ulrich did win the TdF in addition to a Vuelta, World Championships, and Olympic gold.

You are right about Cav though. Cav is whinny when he doesn't win. But I see the sprinters as the "divas" of the peloton. Without their personalities what would the media have to write about? Remember this guy?

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=209055

A zebra kit, really...And Robbie McEwen has rubbed many the wrong way as well. Andre Griepel is a sourpuss, etc....

Even if Cav wants to go for green he'll have a difficult time of it. As you have pointed out, he's an win or nothing sprinter. The green is about piling up points. Even finishing second or third along with intermediate sprints along the way is how one wins the points battle.

I'm surprised it took them this long to announce the request.

I think it makes perfect sense. Therefore, it will be disallowed.

Disclaimer: *NOT* an AC fan.

I'm not really an AC or AS fan. But it seems like the fair ruling. But I think your assessment is the way it will go. Plus, outside of Spain there will few sympathetic ears to Saxo's protest. Most believe AS is very fortunate to even be in the race.