Originally Posted by fordmanvt

They could have caught him, but was a tactical choice not to chase given the short distance and having Lance on their wheel. They would put in lots more effort, and with Lance hanging with them, they gain nothing.

Originally Posted by USAZorro

Fanmen to you.

Originally Posted by ooga-booga

the chicken was handily beating everyone because the other teams inconceivably let him get 5+ minutes
up the road. remember how angry christophe moreau was that day as he constantly tried to get everyone
to chase? moreau seemed to be the only rider smart enough to consider rasmussen dangerous. that old dog
knew that rasmussen was potentially winning the tour right then and no one would help him minimize the
damage. the other contenders were primarily wheelsucking a majority of the last climb. rasmussen essentially
pulled a 1998 pantani col de galibier move on everyone. the rest of the field finally figured out what moreau
already knew-the tour was over when they saw the chicken putting in a top 15 time trial.

i think contador
would have won the 07 tour anyway if the other teams hadn't wildly overestimated their ability to
control rasmussen downroad (much of the thinking was that he would give away most/all of his mountain gains in the tt's).
surprising that they blew it so badly given the facts that rasmussen was a known quantity and we had
just seen the pereiro (previous top ten) & landis breakaways which defined the 06 race. hindsight is 20/20
but still, you don't give away significant time to anyone, much less someone as accomplished as
rasmussen, pereiro or landis. it's a receipe for game over.


with armstrong back in the peleton, it's less likely for
a similar scenario to unfold. watching the 2006-2008 races, which had some really boneheaded tactical
manuevers/mistakes by most teams, undoubtedly gave lance fuel for the fire. no wonder he thinks he can
win. i don't blame him. if i had his form, experience and team, i'd feel the same way.

Originally Posted by reef58

"Contador is not unbeatable," said Schleck.

"It will not be the same story in the Alps, which will be different from the Pyrenees.

"The stages there are tougher and I don't think Contador can make big differences in the Alps."

Wow everyone's picking on AC. Schleck says or insinuates Armstrong is going to win #8. Quote from Velonews article.

Richard

Originally Posted by grinderbob

Well said.

Why did people say he is not a team player? Attacking at that time might cause his teammates time, but they chose not to follow, either they could not, or they believed there were still 2 weeks left. But why would anyone give away 20 sec when you had the chance, especially when you are widely regarded as the leader, and you are gaining 20 sec against other contenders from other teams?

If it were Lance attacking, everyone would just shut up and praise: at the age of 37 and 4 years out of the sport, Lance is showing his colors once again.

Originally Posted by erader

levi and lance could not go with contador.

i think AC's move was meant to regain time on armstrong who declared "all bets off" on stage three. i was glad to see contador regain the time and on spanish soil.

if contador cracks i hope lance steps up and wins the tour. i will root for him. yes, i'd rather see lance crushed and humiliated than win the tour by intimidation and deception.

Originally Posted by bbattle

I think Andy is saying that he, Andy Schleck, will be opening a can of whoopass in the Alps.