Stage 15 Spoiler
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The first incident which comes to mind of people waiting was when Armstrong got felled by some spectator on a climb. In those situations, people always wait.
People wait for punctures, again, not the rider's fault
This may well have been Schleck's fault for a bad shift, or not using the chain guard, so fair enough to attack. Wasn't just Contador, three others went too...
And as Boardman or someone pointed out, everyone waited up for Schleck at the beginning of the race, when he may well have lost many minutes if they hadn't...
People wait for punctures, again, not the rider's fault
This may well have been Schleck's fault for a bad shift, or not using the chain guard, so fair enough to attack. Wasn't just Contador, three others went too...
And as Boardman or someone pointed out, everyone waited up for Schleck at the beginning of the race, when he may well have lost many minutes if they hadn't...
No-one was complaining when big Jan waited when Lance fell and then pulled his feet out of the pedal in 2003.
Sysagent
"The Most Annoying Man In The World."
- Location
- Great Harwood, Lancashire
The difference being that Contador was on the last 500m of the stage on a totally flat part, in the first week of the Tour...
And he wasn't wearing the Yellow Jersey.
That's racing.
To be fair to Contador, he didn't take advantage of Schleck's misfortune. Schleck attacked and Contador responded. When Contador passed Schleck, he didn't know what the problem was (that's what he's just said anyway!). He didn't know it was a mechanical and just continued on the counter-attack.
It's bad luck, and I would prefer the yellow was not taken like that, but that's just the way it goes. I obviously hope the tour is not decided by it either (I don't think it will) but I certainly don't hold Contador in any disrespect for it.
To be fair to Contador, he didn't take advantage of Schleck's misfortune. Schleck attacked and Contador responded. When Contador passed Schleck, he didn't know what the problem was (that's what he's just said anyway!). He didn't know it was a mechanical and just continued on the counter-attack.
It's bad luck, and I would prefer the yellow was not taken like that, but that's just the way it goes. I obviously hope the tour is not decided by it either (I don't think it will) but I certainly don't hold Contador in any disrespect for it.
I suppose you're right. Its just difficult to be philosophical until the dust has settled a bit.
The difference being that Contador was on the last 500m of the stage on a totally flat part, in the first week of the Tour...
And he wasn't wearing the Yellow Jersey.
.. and if Contador gets a mechanical in the TT (in yellow) would Schleck stop for the same time to make it all fair?
Sysagent
"The Most Annoying Man In The World."
- Location
- Great Harwood, Lancashire
.. and if Contador gets a mechanical in the TT (in yellow) would Schleck stop for the same time to make it all fair?
Now you know that wouldn't be the case, stop being pedantic...
Sysagent
"The Most Annoying Man In The World."
- Location
- Great Harwood, Lancashire
To quote Robbie Hunter on Twitter:-
"STG3 Contador never had yellow.ppl it was totally different story..in the peleton if yellow has a problem u wait specially if its a person who can win the tour.. That's how we race!!!"
"STG3 Contador never had yellow.ppl it was totally different story..in the peleton if yellow has a problem u wait specially if its a person who can win the tour.. That's how we race!!!"
So your point is that it is OK for Schleck to take advantage of a mechanical but not Contador or Menchov or Sanchez
This is interesting and much more relevant than our opinions. The crowd's reaction didn't sound very positive at the jersey presentation.
So your point is that it is OK for Schleck to take advantage of a mechanical but not Contador or Menchov or Sanchez
The point is, Contador didn't take advantage. Schleck's chain didn't come off and THEN Contador attacked. That would have been taking advantage. Schleck attacked, Contador responded, chain jumped, Contador continued unaware - at that moment - of Schleck's problem. The difference is of timing, a little hair splitting but non-the-less valid. It was just unfortunate and not cynical, imo.
