TdF update July 20 - Stage 17
What a fantastic finish to an extremely difficult day – racing in the rain is never fun, but racing over treacherous roads at high speeds with the stage win and then the Tour on the line makes for high drama. Today’s finish into Pinerolo did not disappoint.
What more can be said about Thor – it’s more like the Thor de France after another dominating day in the mountains for the big God of Thunder. He rode today almost exactly like he rode on Friday into Gap and that’s a trick he might not be able to pull a third time on the peloton. Talking transfer rumors he continues to increase his contract value for next year – all the talk of him going to a French team – he may have just priced himself off the French market with his performance in the Tour. Hopefully the rift between the Garmin guys and the Cervelo guys can be mended and JV can come up with the money to keep him on the Slipstream program – he would be a huge loss.
Onto Contador – finally we had some great racing today among the favorites – and just as Schleckette has been predicting someone will crack – too back it was actually him. Finally we saw some separation among the big favorites – and it was Cadel who comes out on top. He is absolutely flying right now and today’s result has to give him a ton of confidence getting ready for three incredibly hard days. Contador and Evans were clear winners today. Andy Schleck was the biggest loser – but actually Frank might be considered a winner too – even though he lost time and dropped to third. Now with over a minute up on his brother they can stop riding hand in hand and Andy can get on the front and take some pulls for him.
Andy's potential to win the Tour is over. Unless there is a stratospheric collapse by Cadel Evans and by Contador he's lost too much time today - and ultimately he has no-one to blame but his own descending skills for this year's Tour loss.
Tomorrow will be very important for the riders behind Cadel & the Schlecks. Contor and Sanchez both took time back on everyone but Cadel today and the other top GC guys will want to try the same thing. Look for Basso and possibly Tommy D to try a little attack tomorrow. I doubt it will lead to anything but it’s a shot. Also look for Andy to put in a big attack on the final climb to Cote de Pramartino. He and Frank haven’t given up the dream of a Schleck 1-2 in Paris no matter what they say to the press. You can tell that from the way they ride.
Stage 17: Gap to Pinerolo
Rough. Rough. Rough. There’s no way about it – this will be a really hard stage. Look for a big breakaway again with some good names in it – but overall the Schlecks need time – so expect them to explode the peloton on the climb to Sestrieres and then Andy to attack on Pramartino. He’ll want to gap his brother and the rest to get himself back in place for his not-so-secret Alp d’Huez attack plan. I don’t think it will work – Contador is getting stronger and rides well in the rain – a bad day tomorrow will work in his favor. He won’t like the hard pace Leopard-Trek pushes early but he’ll hang on. In fact I would guess even when Andy puts his 100% attack in that Contador is able to go across with time.
Tomorrow I think the winner will come from a break again – so it’s super hard to guess – I expect a few FdJ guys to be up there and maybe even David Moncoutie and Sylvain Chavanel – tomorrow is their last reach chance for a stage win. Voeckler should keep the jersey.
Winner: Sylvain Chavanel
Yellow: Thomas Voeckler
Green: Mark Cavendish
Polka-Dot: Jelle Vandendert
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