TDF Discussion - here be spoilers

[Zen]

Clearly, he's the matador, but after that I can't wrap my poor little brain around it.

Oh, don't fret. It's a reference to a movie about another type of race

[kenyonchris]

Just watched the recap. My silly SO was feeling puckish, unlike me, he is qualified to comment on tactics and such since he was a professional for some time. He is very disdainful of Contador's decisions and tactics. He sure has the legs and youth to beat them all, but Lance may make some smarter decisions. And, in the future, Contador may have problems finding teammates.

+1 on Andy Schleck being the cutest thing ever. Too bad I have too many years on him.

[Trigress]

It might just be my being exceedingly slow, it's morning after all, but why did that Schmalz guy write SMASH behind Thor's name?? Is it an in-joke or what?

[Duck on Wheels]

It might just be my being exceedingly slow, it's morning after all, but why did that Schmalz guy write SMASH behind Thor's name?? Is it an in-joke or what?

I think that may be a reference to Thor the god of thunder (and rain, as we saw yesterday -- Thor <3s wet asphalt!).

[Trigress]

Oh, ok, I've always thought "CRACK" would be more like the sound of thunder, but ok, I get it.

[Kalidurga]

You'd have to follow Schmalz for a while to get all of his in-jokes but, yes, Thor SMASH is a reference to not only the Norse god of thunder but also the comic book character.

And yet another blog that I think nails the Contador situation right on the head: http://unholyrouleur-jim.blogspot.co...-notes-ii.html. Lance was certainly more than a bit cocky in his early days and still makes questionable decisions in his non-cycling life, but I really don't think Contador has anywhere near Lance's smarts on the bike.

[Duck on Wheels]

Schmalz (phhhhhtttttt!) seems to have a little "theme sound" for everybody -- a drum roll, a cymbal crash, a doo-wop refrain. I gave him "phhhhhtttttt!" because schmalz is another word for the raspberry sound, and also because the cuteness of the little theme sounds wears off pretty fast, for me at any rate.

As for Lance's vs Contador's tactical choices yesterday, I think L played his team role pretty much to perfection. His job was to keep an eye on Wiggins's every move and counter it. When he saw that Wiggins had too little fuel left for a last-minute raid, he was able to make a dash for it himself, both for his own sake and to help Klöden catch up again. Contador ... well ... if his move had worked, if the Schleck brothers had caved rather than Klöden, he'd have been a team hero. Maybe he thought that was what would happen, maybe not. After all, whadda I know? I've never even paid attention to the TdF before yesterday. That was the first day all the tactical stuff made any sense to me, which did make it a lot more fun to watch.

[arielmoon]

You'd have to follow Schmalz for a while to get all of his in-jokes but, yes, Thor SMASH is a reference to not only the Norse god of thunder but also the comic book character.

And yet another blog that I think nails the Contador situation right on the head: http://unholyrouleur-jim.blogspot.co...-notes-ii.html. Lance was certainly more than a bit cocky in his early days and still makes questionable decisions in his non-cycling life, but I really don't think Contador has anywhere near Lance's smarts on the bike.

Yup, nail on head.

Bruyneel, who is trying to stay cool about Contador's move, is obviously upset that Contador has probably destroyed Astana's (formerly very good) chances for an all-Astana podium in Paris. Because Contador is almost certainly going to win anyhow, and because going away and dragging the Schlecks with him didn't help Contador in the G.C. standings, his move was either stupid or malicious. Either way it shows he isn't a team player, and could not care less about how the team fares.