Today was a good day in The Tour. Many thought that it would be a bit so-so with the real race starting tomorrow, at Arcalis. But the weather, and just enough hills, made it dramatic.
It was finished off by a really good rider, Thor Hushovd. He's not the pure sprinter that Cav is, but he's a very smart and strong, and played a very strategic hand today. Today ended on a hill, in Barcelona (the same finishing circuit as at the 92 Olympics, on Montjuic.) but that pitch was not enough to be decisive, and the strong sprinters were hanging around at the end.
There also wasn't a decisive split in the group, as most of the contenders were finished together with the first group. There were stragglers, guys who hit the deck during the race. Guys like Boonen and Michael Rogers. Which sucks, because I wanted to see Rogers do well this year. Rogers is a good guy, a strong rider who has Tour potential, but a guy who has poo for luck. He crashes or has an injury or something happens, and his Tour has gone south once again. Sucks for him.
A guy I really like this year, Tony Martin, is still hanging around the GC, and I hope he makes a bit of noise tomorrow, that would be nice.
But tomorrow, on the whole will be just awesome. The finish on Arcalis is being billed as the most decisive stage so far. Absolutely it is. For sure Cancellara is done wearing yellow, and for sure there will be a showdown, and I will bet what is left of my kids college savings that an Astana rider will be leading this race by the end.
Here's what the stage looks like:
Who will be the last guy standing? That remains to be seen.
What does Astana do? They basically have this race in control right now. Definately look for Astana riders to go in every break. There will be an early break, and expect either Popovich, Zubeldia or Kloden to be in it. If it's a late break over the cat. 2 Serra Seca, look for Leipheimer to get in it.
What this will do is take the pressure off of Astana to chase any breakaways. That means that Silence-Lotto, Saxo-Bank, Liquigas and the others will need to chase. Then, at Arcalis, Astana will take over and they will roll the most amazing Pain Train all the way to the top.
You will see whoever is left of Astana mass at the front, and they will lay down the most rediculous tempo, that guys will fall off the back, their Tours all over. I mean, it will be so hard, guys like me watching it on TV will be redlining the HR...
Then look for a small group of Armstrong and Contador and whoever is left to finish the last five K... and expect Contador and Lance to go the last two K, battling till the end. Expect Contador to win, he is the stronger rider, but either way, it will be a battle. I think Lance is gonna be there, I do.
(at this point, I haven't yet drank the Kool Aid, but it is sitting in the glass on the table, next to the dinner plate... it is iced and refreshing, and I am reaching for it at this point... )
A couple things about today:
White jersey's look terrible on rainy days:
That is dingy grey. And it looks bad.
That is dingy grey. And it looks bad.Guys were looking shell shocked at the end:
That means that guys were killing themselves to stay with the lead group.
That means that guys were killing themselves to stay with the lead group.I'm looking forward to the stage tomorrow... and I'm going to a coffee shop to watch it with a friend from work. Should be epic.
0 comments:
Post a Comment