And that is why the Tour de France is the greatest sporting event in the world.........

Jaysus have you seen the weather?!

Epic stuff between Schleck and Contador today fantastuic to watch.

Schleck failed to gain any time though so he will really have his work cut out in the time trial - something that Contador is significantly better than him at.

It's over, even had Contador not taken advantage of Shlecks chain coming off he would still be close enough to win it on the TT. Petacchi will win tomorows stage. Cancellara will win the TT. And Cav to take the final stage on the Champs Elysees

Caught that today. You'd have to admire both men. I was hoping Schleck might burn him off but it was not to be.

We all know Schleck should still be in the Maillot Jeune.

Disgracefully robbed off his back by El Pisterolo.

Contador dosen't time-trial as well on these flat ones, then again Schleck never time-trials well.

Wouldn't it be great if he pulled it off.

Loyal - what did he lose time wise in the chain incident? And what sort of time diff do you expect between them in the TT?

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Loyal - what did he lose time wise in the chain incident? And what sort of time diff do you expect between them in the TT?

I think he took gained about 38 seconds or so when Schleck's chain went.

Contador beat Schleck by almost 2 minutes in the final TT last year. That was over 40km, whereas tomorrow is 52km. Both were pretty flat.

The race, barring a disaster for Contador, is over.

Schleck was 31 seconds clear of Contador before Monday's stage, after it he was 8 seconds in arrears. So the clock says he lost 39 seconds. However, he was in the process of attacking and Contador's response wasn't exactly immediate so who knows? Schleck reckoned a minute would have been enough to hold on. The cycling public had it around 2mins 30secs. I reckon minus eight seconds is still okay but not ideal.

Grand thanks lads. Did Contador not contest the finish today do ye think - was it a kind of sorry?

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Grand thanks lads. Did Contador not contest the finish today do ye think - was it a kind of sorry?

I didnt see it, but followed the live updates online. Typically, the yellow jersey doesn't contest stage wins (aside from TTs), as it is seen as bad sportsmanship to monopolise all the publicity and bonuses.

I'd guess he left it for Schleck, but can't be sure as I didn't see it. Loyal?

He didn't contest the finish, but I don't think that it was an apology. Contador sat behind Shleck up the mountain and (apart from one attack to which Shleck responded to magnificently) so as Shleck had done all the work he allowed him to take the stage knowing that the yellow jersey is in the bag.

Dr.Shephard wrote:He didn't contest the finish, but I don't think that it was an apology. Contador sat behind Shleck up the mountain and (apart from one attack to which Shleck responded to magnificently) so as Shleck had done all the work he allowed him to take the stage knowing that the yellow jersey is in the bag.

This ^^

It would be a massive sporting upset if Schleck wins this Tour.

Honourable mention to Nicholas Roche - watch out for him in the future.

Ya roche would be in 11th or 12th had Gadret not refused to give him his front wheel after a puncture. He lost a lot of time.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Grand thanks lads. Did Contador not contest the finish today do ye think - was it a kind of sorry?

I didnt see it, but followed the live updates online. Typically, the yellow jersey doesn't contest stage wins (aside from TTs), as it is seen as bad sportsmanship to monopolise all the publicity and bonuses.

I'd guess he left it for Schleck, but can't be sure as I didn't see it. Loyal?

I didn't see it either. But I seen Schleck out-sprint Sammy Sanchez a few days ago so no reason that he wouldn't outsprint Contador. The popular theory that he left it to Schleck satisfies everyone and saved Contador any possible embarrassment.

On Roche, I read his diary on Monday and agree that it was a bad move from Gadret.

As leader, Contador obviously has the massive advantage of going last in the time trial so presumably race radio can steer him through to beat Schleck's performance which would be available to analyse.

SamiPremier08 wrote:As leader, Contador obviously has the massive advantage of going last in the time trial so presumably race radio can steer him through to beat Schleck's performance which would be available to analyse.

Well Schleck is the penultimate rider out of the blocks and I guess a two minute time gap between starts so Contador won't have that much of an advantage.

SamiPremier08 wrote:As leader, Contador obviously has the massive advantage of going last in the time trial so presumably race radio can steer him through to beat Schleck's performance which would be available to analyse.

Not really, as he will only started 3 minutes behind Schleck, so not exactly enough time to alter your overall strategy. Also, they couldnt be sure how much effort Schleck would have been putting in in the various segments.

The only thing would be if Schleck was struggling, he may not have to push as hard on tight corners, if it was wet, for instance (saw this with Armstrong following Ulrich many years ago, when Ulrich came off the bike, and Armstrong almost came to a halt on the same corner to avoid doing similar).

But no Sami, it is no advantage really. In the greatest time trial in the Tour's history, the man going last lost a decent lead and lost the race by 8 seconds.

My point is the guys on the end of Contador's race radio will compare Contador's time with Schleck's time at certain points (albeit just 3 minutes ahead) and they will beable to work out what Contador needs to do on average to get a faster time.

SamiPremier08 wrote:My point is the guys on the end of Contador's race radio will compare Contador's time with Schleck's time at certain points (albeit just 3 minutes ahead) and they will beable to work out what Contador needs to do on average to get a faster time.

Sorry Sami, it doesn't work that way. Both riders will have their strategy mapped out beforehand. Contador won't know how much effort Schelck is putting in in the early stages, and so won't change his strategy if, for instance, Schleck posts some quick early intervals.

Contador is a human not a race-car - he can't just cruise around at 2-3 seconds faster than Schleck all day, no matter what info he gets from his team.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

SamiPremier08 wrote:My point is the guys on the end of Contador's race radio will compare Contador's time with Schleck's time at certain points (albeit just 3 minutes ahead) and they will beable to work out what Contador needs to do on average to get a faster time.

Sorry Sami, it doesn't work that way. Both riders will have their strategy mapped out beforehand. Contador won't know how much effort Schelck is putting in in the early stages, and so won't change his strategy if, for instance, Schleck posts some quick early intervals.

Contador is a human not a race-car - he can't just cruise around at 2-3 seconds faster than Schleck all day, no matter what info he gets from his team.

but back to basics:

Towards the end Schleck passes a point at - for example say 30 minutes.
Contador passes this point on 31 minutes.
Race radio "you need to go a bit faster Alberto"

no?

No, for these 2 simple reasons:

1) Contador may have been saving himself for the last few km anyway, and Schleck could be burnt out. In a time trial you have to get into your rhythm and stick to your strategy.

2) Contador is not a machine, and can't simply increase his speed to reduce the arrears, just because he is told to.

It is a nice idea Sami, but it just doesn't happen like that.

Alright then I'll go back to something I know lots about like the effects of the decline of the coal mining industry on the town of Consett in County Durham or the factors that led to the passing of the 1875 Public Health Act...

Schleck 23:10
Contador 23:16

At the 18k mark.

Contador leads the Tour by 2 seconds.

brilliant, id love to see schleck do it

Contador by '39 seconds. Ironically, exactly what he robbed when Schleck dropped his chain the other day.

Yellow jersey robbed.