The first three stages through the Pyrenees haven’t yielded the clear leader most of us were hoping for. Instead, the 31 second lead held by Andy Schleck has been erased, and Alberto Contador now holds an 8 second lead. Since my last post, both Denis Menchov (2 minutes back) and Samuel Sanchez (2 minutes 13 seconds back) have been able to close the gap on the leaders. (See full results at www.letour.fr) As the two leaders play cat and mouse with each other, they just might leave the door open for Menchov or Sanchez to close the gap.
As was seen by Andy Schleck on stage 15, a mechanical failure can occur any time to anybody, causing a loss of time. The supposed cycling etiquette would have required Contador, Menchov and Snchez to let Schleck rejoin their group when his chain fell off at the top of the climb of Port de Bales, but hey, THIS IS A RACE not a therapy session. Levii Leipheimer has shown that he cannot climb with the best and has lost all chance of a podium finish.
Stage 17 should be a great showdown between Contador and Schleck. With the stage ending on the top of the Col du Tourmalet, the 2 should battle it out at the top. Schleck’s anger at being left behind with a mechanical failure, and Contaador’s desire to prove he is the best, should lead to a great showdown at the top after Wednesday’s rest day. If Schelck is to win the overall race. he needs to put a least 1 minute 30 seconds into Contador. And after the way Schleck was treated, don’t expect him to wait for anybody.
