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ysobelleFabian Cancellara has cracked.
Yeah, I know, everyone knew it would happen, and the Swiss champion himself acknowledged it in pre-race interviews with a smile and a rueful shrug. But it seems to be happening now, on the slopes of the HC climb to the finish here in Andorra. The field, after mile upon mile of switchback climbing, interspersed with short, technical descents, is showing some strain, and Cancellara is no longer in the front of the peloton. He's one minute behind that front group, which is led commandingly by Astana. This could put Lance Armstrong solidly in the Maillot Jaune.
Nine riders took off early this morning. They've stayed ahead, which is pretty good for a mountain stage. Importantly, since this is early in the race, some of those guys are only three minutes off the pace. They're four and a half minutes ahead. One of them could have the lead tonight. But honestly? There are flashes here of the man who crushed all competition for seven years. Cadel Evans is looking to change his luck, but when he seems to attempt an attack, Lance is right there on his ass, shutting him down. Astana is pushing a hard pace, looking to head off any serious attacks from Columbia or Garmin.
And way, way up the road, just passing under the 1km flag, one of those breakaway riders, Brice Feillu of Agritubel, is alone, pedalling with all his heart. His more well-known brother and teammate, Roman, is somewhere far back down the mountain, probably filled with fraternal glee. (He will cross the line 28 minutes later, all but jumping up and down with joy for his brother.)
And it's Contador breaking off back down the mountain like he's been fired from a gun, trying to ride away not only from the peloton, but his own teammate! He needs to make up 20 seconds on Lance-- can he do it? Will Lance let him?
The lonely rider clicks closer and closer, not even bothering to zip up his jersey-- which will make his team sponsors absolutely crazy. But Feillu crosses the line all alone! Exhausted, amazed, and alone!
Back down the road, Lance is allowing Contador his glory. Armstrong is sitting on Cadel Evans, staying with him. But now Evans makes a move to chase Contador, and Armstrong is going with him! Can they catch him? Are they trying? Armstrong himself has said no one can accelerate up a mountain over and over like Contador, and the Spanish rider is surely showing it now. He's making this look effortless. Again and again, he turns on the afterburners, rising out of the saddle to all but dance up the mountain, swatting away anyone who even thinks to attack him. He's at the line! Alone! Is it enough? Has he made 20 seconds? Has he taken the prize everyone assumed would go to the Texan?
Here comes the next group! The clock is ticking. Yes? Yes? Come on, guys, was it enough? Oh, G-d-- 19 seconds? Maybe? So now we sit. Now we wait to see what happens. While we're waiting, Cancellara's group is heading to the line. Cancellara is riding smoothly and easily-- well, as easily as one can after the Tour's longest stage, and one that ends in the third-highes-ever Stage end. The riders keep rolling over the line in multi-coloured groups. We're still waiting with baited breath for the answer: who will it be? Who made it to yellow? And it's....
Rinaldo Nocentini of AG2R.
I'm sorry-- who?
Well, those breakaway riders did cross far enough ahead of anyone else to make up their individual deficits. No one seriously chased them, because none of them are serious long-term contenders for the lead. Indeed, tomorrow will probably see the Maillot Jaune go to someone else. Still, this stage has a lot of people checking their programs to see what the heck just went down.
So what happened here today? Lance had a faceful of microphones asking him that very question. He still held, more or less, to the party line: I'm a member of a team, I did what was best for the team. Another rider had better legs, and I rode to support him. Is it true? Probably. Lance is self-effacing enough to be brutally honest about his own ride. Is there more to the story? That's probably true, too. There are plenty of stages left, and though he's now two seconds behind Contador, he's still third overall, with the lead spot held by an Italian rider who is quite talented, but not likely to hold said lead long. So shall we say, a virtual second. Behind a teammate who I would imagine doesn't think he has to prove anything to anyone, but will nonetheless prove it anyhow. With a hammer. I'm not too sure I'd want to be at that team dinner tonight.
More mountains tomorrow. Probably more drama.
Bring popcorn.
Yeah, I know, everyone knew it would happen, and the Swiss champion himself acknowledged it in pre-race interviews with a smile and a rueful shrug. But it seems to be happening now, on the slopes of the HC climb to the finish here in Andorra. The field, after mile upon mile of switchback climbing, interspersed with short, technical descents, is showing some strain, and Cancellara is no longer in the front of the peloton. He's one minute behind that front group, which is led commandingly by Astana. This could put Lance Armstrong solidly in the Maillot Jaune.
Nine riders took off early this morning. They've stayed ahead, which is pretty good for a mountain stage. Importantly, since this is early in the race, some of those guys are only three minutes off the pace. They're four and a half minutes ahead. One of them could have the lead tonight. But honestly? There are flashes here of the man who crushed all competition for seven years. Cadel Evans is looking to change his luck, but when he seems to attempt an attack, Lance is right there on his ass, shutting him down. Astana is pushing a hard pace, looking to head off any serious attacks from Columbia or Garmin.
And way, way up the road, just passing under the 1km flag, one of those breakaway riders, Brice Feillu of Agritubel, is alone, pedalling with all his heart. His more well-known brother and teammate, Roman, is somewhere far back down the mountain, probably filled with fraternal glee. (He will cross the line 28 minutes later, all but jumping up and down with joy for his brother.)
And it's Contador breaking off back down the mountain like he's been fired from a gun, trying to ride away not only from the peloton, but his own teammate! He needs to make up 20 seconds on Lance-- can he do it? Will Lance let him?
The lonely rider clicks closer and closer, not even bothering to zip up his jersey-- which will make his team sponsors absolutely crazy. But Feillu crosses the line all alone! Exhausted, amazed, and alone!
Back down the road, Lance is allowing Contador his glory. Armstrong is sitting on Cadel Evans, staying with him. But now Evans makes a move to chase Contador, and Armstrong is going with him! Can they catch him? Are they trying? Armstrong himself has said no one can accelerate up a mountain over and over like Contador, and the Spanish rider is surely showing it now. He's making this look effortless. Again and again, he turns on the afterburners, rising out of the saddle to all but dance up the mountain, swatting away anyone who even thinks to attack him. He's at the line! Alone! Is it enough? Has he made 20 seconds? Has he taken the prize everyone assumed would go to the Texan?
Here comes the next group! The clock is ticking. Yes? Yes? Come on, guys, was it enough? Oh, G-d-- 19 seconds? Maybe? So now we sit. Now we wait to see what happens. While we're waiting, Cancellara's group is heading to the line. Cancellara is riding smoothly and easily-- well, as easily as one can after the Tour's longest stage, and one that ends in the third-highes-ever Stage end. The riders keep rolling over the line in multi-coloured groups. We're still waiting with baited breath for the answer: who will it be? Who made it to yellow? And it's....
Rinaldo Nocentini of AG2R.
I'm sorry-- who?
Well, those breakaway riders did cross far enough ahead of anyone else to make up their individual deficits. No one seriously chased them, because none of them are serious long-term contenders for the lead. Indeed, tomorrow will probably see the Maillot Jaune go to someone else. Still, this stage has a lot of people checking their programs to see what the heck just went down.
So what happened here today? Lance had a faceful of microphones asking him that very question. He still held, more or less, to the party line: I'm a member of a team, I did what was best for the team. Another rider had better legs, and I rode to support him. Is it true? Probably. Lance is self-effacing enough to be brutally honest about his own ride. Is there more to the story? That's probably true, too. There are plenty of stages left, and though he's now two seconds behind Contador, he's still third overall, with the lead spot held by an Italian rider who is quite talented, but not likely to hold said lead long. So shall we say, a virtual second. Behind a teammate who I would imagine doesn't think he has to prove anything to anyone, but will nonetheless prove it anyhow. With a hammer. I'm not too sure I'd want to be at that team dinner tonight.
More mountains tomorrow. Probably more drama.
Bring popcorn.