Good analogy but I guess sky just do what all teams try to. Radioshack should have done more to challenge with the riders they have. Sky just work together as a team better. Cav for the champs elysee and olympic gold.
Liquigas should have gone all out for Nibali. Basso was pulling him for a while, but then faded. And Nibali left it too late, I reckon.....could have put Wiggins under pressure (or, maybe, even split Wiggins and Froome). Didn't happen.
Missing someone like Pantani. Also when Armstrong dominated, he let his team work as far as they could, before launching an attack on his rivals. Wiggins is a different kind of rider. He just rides a consistent tempo. Check this Pantani Armstrong battle on Mont Ventoux. [video=youtube;6q38Gyjv4EE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q38Gyjv4EE[/video]
Class stuff, HHH. Here's one for you: [video=youtube;AyvwtOQYQ-E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyvwtOQYQ-E[/video]
The Col du Tourmalet is always compelling viewing. I agree with you to an extent about Contador or even Andy Shleck giving the yellow a run for his money. I would love to see Wiggins win a stage other than a time trial, but in this instance to get a British winner and with the Olympics looming they are playing it safe and it'll be a procession to Paris. Cav has suffered most in this respect. Perhaps next year if Froome can get a new team, Shleck (A) is back and Nibali contines to improve it might be different. I remember in 2003 Armstrong won a mountain stage after his 'detour' and it was gripping to watch. That said, I am enjoying this years race.
Stage 17: Bagneres-de-Luchon to Peyragudes (143.5km) - 1 x Cat.3; 1 x Cat.2; 3 x Cat.1 and 1 x HC. Last chance for the climbers(!)......but who are they? (Incidentally, it was worth noting that, yesterday, Peter Sagan - who is a sprinter - kept pace until the last of the four climbs. It may be that, with time, he developes as an all-rounder. He is only 22!) [Edit - Allan Peiper: "With the final time trial looming, this is the very last chance for some riders to gain some time on their rivals. It is quite a short distance so there’ll be a lot of fireworks and the last climb is sure to be an absolutely huge showdown."]
Cav isn't a climber. Froome could've left Wiggins and gone for it but, he wasn't allowed to. I hope he pisses all over the boring Bradley in Saturday's TT.
Stage 18: Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde (222.5km). There could be a big break, with riders getting their last chance of a stage win before Paris. A long stage, so it may well rule out the sprinters. So the Murdochs will look after Bradley Boring's 2 minute lead (and, definitely, not allow Froome to challenge him - that could leave him un-protected!) [Edit: 3 x Cat.4 and 1 x Cat.3 in the climbs - lumpy rather than mountainous]
Bit of a shame that we are in danger of over-looking the achievment of a British rider winning the Tour, in favour of bashing on the basis of perceived personality. Nothing to do with years of training, dedication, Olympic success, a gradual improvement in performance of the last couple of years and more than likely denying himself a lot of things such as beer and curry to fulfil a dream to win the race he watched his heroes win as a kid. Brit wins Tour de France - something I NEVER thought would happen, especially when sometimes we never even had a rider in the event. Wiggins was put in the position of TEAM leader, having done well over the last couple of years on the road race scene and the decision was made that it was all about him, as a Brit, winning and the TEAM would make sure that happens. Froome's day will come and it might be a period of domination in the event for a few years. Let's try not to do the great British thing of knocking people when they achieve.
You're on it, HHH, but did you know that - on the team bus, Cav asked for the sprint, but 'the team' (Brailsford) said no. He was told he had to protect Boring Bradley. And - as you say - the look on Sanchez' face when he came past both Sanchez and Roche, what a good one! But where was Cav's 'train'? It didn't exist, because the Murdochs were about protecting Boring's position. Now, tomorrow: Who will win the TT? Froome will go off just before Boring....will he go for the win? (Boardman reckons he's the fittest!) or will the Murdochs rein him in, via radio, in order that the Corporate Boring wins? Did you know - there is a video based on Wiggins' victory, made long before now? Wonder........and worry.......
Stage 19: Bonneval to Chartres (53.5km). Bradley Wiggins' speciality - a time trial. But who will win it? Will it be the TT specialist - Fabian Cancellara; will it be the favourite, the man in Yellow - Bradley Wiggins; or will it be Chris Boardman's tip - Chris Froome? Wiggins will have the final start, with Froome the rider to go off immediately before him. So Wiggins will know what time he has to beat...
They could start a new award for lack of personality. To get started, I will nominate Wiggins, Andy Murray and Nigel Pearson. Who else should be in the running?
Cancellara pulled out of the race over a week ago. As indeed has another TT specialist in tony Martin.
It depends what you mean by having a personality. If you mean Paul Gascoigne or Frank Bruno, then yeah, Wiggins is a different personality. But those guys are ****ing jokes. Wiggins on the other hand is intelligent and actually rather interesting. Plus he's a bit of a mod, which is always a good thing.
