It’s amazing how much can happen in a couple of days on the Tour. First of all, I’m sorry I didn’t get something written for Thursday’s stage…it wasn’t because there was nothing worth saying; I think on a stage like that, you find yourself having to soak in the results, and actually think about the outcome. Now, two days later, I find myself with ALOT to talk about.
First of all, let’s talk about the race. I absolutely love it when the race hits the mountains, and when the race starts to really take a form. Getting the chance to get away from the riders simply talking about what they are going to do, and actually seeing the pretenders being separated from the true contenders is one of the great joys of the race. Admittedly, I met the last two stages with a sense that the true differences would not really be made yet. There would be some riders who would end their quest for the yellow jersey, but there would be plenty of riders who might be riding some decent first week form, but who will ultimately struggle in the really high mountains, or when the race progresses into the third week.
Given the relative simplicity of the past two stages in the Massif Central, the race really lived up to form. I took note of several things. First of all, Evans and Valverde are as good as advertised right now, and will watch each other like hawks. Unfortunately, for the long term, I get the feeling that Evans is riding smarter, and will follow Valverde whenever he attacks. Knowing that Evans will be superior in the final time trial, I figure Valverde will need a couple of minutes in hand going into that stage, and the way they are both riding, I am not sure that a real gap will ever be gotten on their own. Valverde is clearly the more agressive, and right now, has a stronger team, but there is something about Evans that is very soothing about the way he rides. I think that he is exactly where he wants to be at this stage: close enough to the lead to taste it, and with a bit of time on his rivals, but not having the responsibility of leading the race.
As for the other riders, it is clear that there really is alot of parity in the field. Kim Kirchen has been exciting this week, and has looked both agressive and very attentive. As each day passes, he seems to look more and more like a contender, but in the long run, I am very cautious about getting on board with a contender who is this active this early. It is a long race, and it only takes one day for form to desert a rider. Nevertheless, with each day passing, and each challenge met, he has to be gaining more confidence. That being said, I am interested to see what happens in the high mountains next week. I will say that he got the jersey from Schumacher for being attentive, and this is the same reason he defended it on Friday. Menchov and the trio from CSC have been attentive, and worked when it suits them, and I still think they will be factors in the race. Cunego needs to pay better attention. He will remain amongst the leaders, I think, but probably behind the best riders. He seems to be continuously left out of the important moves, as much for his inattention as anything else. Maybe this shows a need for growth as a rider, or perhaps just a lack of form which may still come. We will see.
It has been gratifying to see the presence of the American teams this week. I don’t take them for granted, because they may be one huge mountain stage from being irrelavent in terms of the race as a whole. Christian Vande Velde is riding incredibly well, and is showing a maturity that has never been evident in his career. He has had some decent rides in the past, but staying with the best every day is sensational. It was awesome to see him make a bid for the yellow jersey on Thursday. Even if he didn’t get it, and probably won’t get it, it is great to see an American presence in the overall standings. Big George has been steady as ever. It is ironic that he is having to defend the yellow jersey yet again in his career, after spending so many years doing so for Lance. Just when I thought he might have the freedom to go for a stage win or ride for himself, he is being pressed back into his familiar role, and excelling at it. Team Columbia have been so very impressive. It is clear to me that there are really three major teams in the race, as it pertains to controlling it for the overall: Columbia, Caisse d’Epargne and CSC. Columbia have defended the jersey as well as USPS ever did, even if their resources over the next two weeks may not be as deep. Caisse d’Epargne and CSC each over multiple contenders to the top 10, and strong support riders. I am impressed with both of their power and agressiveness. I firmly believe for Valverde, or Sastre or one of the Schlecks to be successful, they will need to use their teams to their fullest. Silence-Lotto may be a capable team, fully dedicated to Evans’ bid for victory, but I am not convinced that in the highest mountains, anyone save perhaps for Popovych will be up there consistantly when/if Evans takes the lead. The benefit to having multiple strong teams is that there are more men to do the work; the downside is the possible infighting as to who may be responsible to control the pack.
DRUGS
It bothers me to no end to have to mention drugs in this Tour, and I am sad that it is Manuel Beltran who has gotten caught. I have always like Triki Beltran, as a lieutenant for Armstrong, and as a rider. I am furious though that this is still going on, albeit no overly surprised. Of course, he is off the Tour. Selfishly, though, I am a bit miffed that Liquigas is not being asked to leave the race. It’s not that I necessarily suspect that everyone is using, nor do I think it is fair for the other riders to pay for Beltran’s transgressions, but in an event which has billed itself as being “no-nonsense” and having zero tolerance for riders or teams, I find it odd that the team is not being expelled. I feel as though the precedent was set last year, and with the Astana exclusion, the message was clear, albeit misguided perhaps. I guess we will have to see what happens next with this, but I am still bothered by this as if it were just the first time it has happened.
On an unrelated note, it is gratifying to see that on the same day as the Tour is dealing with drugs, Levi Leipheimer (he of the scorned Astana outfit) took the overall lead in Oregon’s Cascade Classic. He is doing this on a challenging course, against many of the top domestic riders. He will defend his lead over the next two days with a supporting team that consists solely of Chris Horner and ….himself (no other teammates in Oregon). Also today, Astana enjoyed a stage win in the Tour of Austria, where they have two riders in the top 10, in Vladimir Gusev and Janez Brajkovic. I guess if they can’t win the Tour, they will just win the othe races.
More to come……
