Chad's spot for various thoughts, musings, poetry, ideas and whatnot

Saturday, July 12, 2008

The last two stages of the Tour have been a bit harder than a lot of people predicted. Yesterday came down to a group of 30-40 but with excellent tactics two riders were able to achieve their goals for the day. De Le Fuente was able, with the help of a teammate in the break, wrest the Polka Dot Jersey from the shoulders of Chavennel and Sanchez was able to hold on for a really beautiful win. Sanchez did a great job getting into a break with three other riders who posed not GC threat and then his team basically rode tempo to allow him a chance to stay away. With the other teams basically relying on Caisse d'Eparnge to do the hard work as the strongest team in the race, they were free to send a rider out and then not chase him to allow him a good chance at the stage victory. For Sanchez, since he's riding for a serious GC contender, everyone recognized that he was in the break to make sure things didn't get too out of hand. They pull him and he does less work so he's fresher at the end. Good tactics all around.

Bjarne Riis' squad showed a little muscle for the day in trying to split the field on a tough section. They almost did it too. If the Caisse d'Eparnge team had joined in pushing the lead group that split off, it would have been a massacre. With all the major contenders in that front group though, there wasn't much to be gained by expending all the energy. Had Kirchen or Evans been unlucky enough to be behind the split, I'm sure the boys in black would have been more than happy to put the pedal down.

Basically, today's another sprint stage. A break may get away but I don't expect it to stick at this point. The usual suspects will contend and I see McEwen getting today's win. He's been unlucky to date and I think he's tired of not finishing first so there will be a little extra motivation. However, any of the rest could win today before the road goes up, up, up into the Pyrenees. That's when we'll see of Valverde has something for Evans and Kirchen or if he's doomed to another mediocre Tour finish (at least for him).

Thanks for Reading.

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