Unremarked by the Versus boys--Phil and Paul--in their wrap-up of today's Tour de France time trial is the significance of the margin between first-place Alberto Contador and second-place Andy Schleck. The gap is 39 seconds, and that happens to be the precise amount of time that Contador gained on Schleck on the final climb and descent on the Tour's 15th stage. Yes, that's the one where Schleck attacked, dropped his chain, and Contador attacked as Schleck first slowed then was forced to dismount to fix his mechanical issue. At the time of that small mishap, Schleck was 31 seconds ahead of Contador in the overall standings; at the finish of the stage, he was 8 seconds down. Controversy attended Contador's move, since many feel it was unsporting to attack a race leader suffering a problem with his bike. That many cycling fans appear to subscribe to this unwritten rule of Tour sportsmanship and disapproved of Contador's tactic became obvious when Contador was awarded the yellow jersey at the end of the stage: many in the crowd booed, a reaction I don't remember hearing before.
In the end, that slipped chain and those 39 seconds that Contador gained determined the winner in this year's Tour. Pending the results of all the Tour doping tests, of course.
That many cycling fans appear to subscribe to this unwritten rule of Tour sportsmanship and disapproved of Contador's tactic became obvious when Contador was awarded the yellow jersey at the end of the stage: many in the crowd booed, a reaction I don't remember hearing before.
Posted by: discount cycling clothing | May 31, 2011 at 09:45 PM
Any Defiant is honored to meet Sylver Valis,rift platinum perhaps
the greatest inventive mind in all Telara. http://www.playerassist.com/rift/
Posted by: Zara Miller | September 26, 2011 at 06:42 PM