TDF Discussion - here be spoilers

[chutch]

Well, that's not the way cycling is, it's quite common to divide work and victory between the riders - and this time they rewarded Fränk Schleck with the stage victory as a way of showing gratitude for his having hauled them up that mountain. It's a fair deal, isn't it?

Oh yeah, I totally understand WHY they did it and how it works in the grand scheme of things. I just don't like it. My personal opinion (and as a spectator who has no vested interest other than being entertained) is that once you get to the finish, you race to the line...no gifts. But, I fully understand that's just not how it works anymore.

[Trigress]

I agree with you generally, I'm all for combative racing, but when it comes to rewarding the workers by giving them the victory I quite like it, there's something so gentlemanly about it, so wonderfully fair!

[arielmoon]

Oh yeah, I totally understand WHY they did it and how it works in the grand scheme of things. I just don't like it. My personal opinion (and as a spectator who has no vested interest other than being entertained) is that once you get to the finish, you race to the line...no gifts. But, I fully understand that's just not how it works anymore.

Well apparently in cycling there is a kind of gifting or else Hincape and Colombia would not have been so upset that he was denied the yellow jersey. Maybe like the rule where no one attacks while there is a nature break happening.

*shrugs*

[papaver]

Very exciting final today. A surprising win too.

[Kalidurga]

Hmmmm... Here's hoping this is only a rumor: http://www.velonews.com/article/95824

[tulip]

Hmmmm... Here's hoping this is only a rumor: http://www.velonews.com/article/95824

Why do you hope it's only a rumor? Sounds very reasonable.

[Kalidurga]

Purely because of my own personal bias against Contador which, like pretty much any other opinion here, is based only on what I've read in the press and seen in race coverage. The guy's shown he's a powerful rider, but I have trouble imagining him as a good fit for that team. "Otre preguntas" is not standard Garmin operating procedure.

But who knows? Either it is only a rumor or, if it's fact, we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

[Cataboo]

You guys have me reading these articles now...

[Aggie_Ama]

Purely because of my own personal bias against Contador which, like pretty much any other opinion here, is based only on what I've read in the press and seen in race coverage. The guy's shown he's a powerful rider, but I have trouble imagining him as a good fit for that team. "Otre preguntas" is not standard Garmin operating procedure.

But who knows? Either it is only a rumor or, if it's fact, we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

I hope it is a rumor because I really don't know what it is but I don't like Contador. I didn't when he won the first time but I can't figure out why. He is a fanatastic rider but he has been dogged by doping rumors more than once, I don't think he is a fit for the boys in Argyle. Maybe it is a cultural difference but his evasive nature and self-serving riding style isn't the type of attitude Garmin built the last couple years.