TDF Discussion - here be spoilers

[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.

[pll]

Stupid? I don't think so. Contador would have been stupid indeed if he believed that Armstrong would not try to defeat him in the time trial. And then Contador would been accused of not having the guts to win, lacking panache, etc. On the contrary, I think it was a smart move on his side, within a team that includes a self centered, righteous, shark (aka Armstrong). Why should anyone ask him to be less self centered than Armstrong? He put distance in the GC relative Armstrong and Wiggins, his main threats in the time trial. Did Armstrong pull Kloeden with him at the end of stage 17? No, he went right past him, not even a pat on the shoulder. Suggesting that Armstrong is playing self-less team mate, that is malicious.

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.

[Zen]

Yup, nail on head.

Either way it shows he isn't a team player, and could not care less about how the team fares.

What team? Why should he care? This is a (barely)team for one race only. Lance (aka Mr. Burns) and Bruyneel (aka Smithers) are already talking about next year. It's every man for himself at this point.

... if his move had worked, if the Schleck brothers had caved rather than Klöden, he'd have been a team hero.

[Kalidurga]

It's every man for himself at this point.

Which makes for very entertaining drama. Regardless of what anyone thinks of any of the racers individual personalities, it's hard to deny that this has been one of the more interesting elements of this year's Tour.

[Cataboo]

What team? Why should he care? This is a (barely)team for one race only. Lance (aka Mr. Burns) and Bruyneel (aka Smithers) are already talking about next year. It's every man for himself at this point.

Not that I've been following this all along, but based on the hour or so that I saw last night...

Contador was sort of a moron for sprinting off, pulling the Shleks and dropping his own teammate... which would have given him someone to work with, hence why he kept looking over his shoulder for about 10 mins.

Lance might still be trying to win, but he was making sure not to pull the Garmin team members (nebayu and wiggins?) up closer to the Shleks or Contador - which is still team behavior...

Lance definitely seems to have the strategy part of the ride down and probably a better judge of what his teammates are capable of... Contador seems rash... but it's more interesting watching, I think and more like a "race"