Contador vs Schleck.
The 2010 TdF was all about last years 1-2 going at it again - and they did not disappoint.
Right from the start it was a battle royale, we had wait-gate, Chain-gate and then the epic showdown on the Tourmalet and a final time trial that was closer than anyone predicted. Lets have a look at the critical stages in the 2010 battle for overall supremacy.
The Prologue - Contador's 2010 Tour began in a fine fashion as the two-time champion bested nearly every general classification rival in the opening race against the clock. Only Lance Armstrong fared better, finishing five seconds faster than the Spaniard, while Andy Schleck had a disappointing 122nd place finish
Contador gained 42 seconds over Schleck
Advantage: Contador by 42 seconds
Stage 2 - While Alberto Contador emerged relatively unscathed from the stage, Andy Schleck crashed twice on the Côte de Stockeu descent but was able to regain contact with the peloton as team mate &
maillot jaune Fabian Cancellara organised a protest and effectively neutralised racing for all but solo stage winner Chavanel.
Contador and Schleck finished together, but it could have been different.
Advantage: Contador by 42 seconds
Stage 3 - The Cobbles. Contador put in an admirable performance on the pavé, but was delayed by the crash which ended Fränk Schleck's Tour de France. The Spaniard was part of the first chase group, accompanied by powerhouse Astana teammate Alexandre Vinokourov, but Contador was gapped out inside the final kilometre with a broken spoke and finished 0:20 behind his chase companions and 1:13 behind Schleck. Schleck had Cancellara thundering his way over the cobbles with Evans, Hushovd and Geraint Thomas along for the ride.
Schleck gained 1.13 on Contador.
Advantage: Schleck by 31 seconds
Stage 8. On the first major day in the mountains at the Tour, Schleck attacked an elite 13-man group of GC contenders with 1km remaining in the 13.6km mountain finish and only Olympic champion Sammy Sanchez could follow. Schleck outsprinted Sanchez for stage victory, while Contador finished 6th and surrendered 10 seconds to the Luxembourger.
Schleck gained 10 seconds on Contador
Advantage: Schleck by 41 seconds
Stage 10. On the steep Montée Laurent Jalabert climb, whose summit was 2km from the finish, Contador attacked the yellow jersey group and opened a gap to Schleck. Contador, accompanied by compatriot Joaquim Rodriguez, caught and passed Contador's teammate Alexandre Vinokourov, the last remaining member of the day's break, and the leading duo sprinted for stage honours. Rodriguez outkicked Contador for first, while Schleck finished 5th on the day in a five-man group of GC contenders, 10 seconds back.
Contador gained 10 seconds on Schleck
Advantage: Schleck by 31 seconds
Stage 15. In a stage which will likely be discussed for years, Alberto Contador donned yellow for the first time in the 2010 Tour following Andy Schleck's mechanical incident on the day's final climb, the
hors categorie Port de Balès. Should Contador have waited for Schleck, the Tour
maillot jaune? Not im my opinion. Thomas Voeckler was well ahead of the GC contenders and soloed to victory, Andy Schleck put in a strong attack approximately 2km from the Port de Balès summit. Moments later, however, the yellow-clad Luxembourger screeched to a halt with a dropped chain while Contador, Denis Menchov and Sammy Sanchez sped past. After Schleck fixed his problem, he put in a powerful surge to crest the Port de Balès summit only 13 seconds behind the Contador group. Schleck would lose time, however, on the lengthy, 21.5km-descent to Bagneres-de-Luchon and crossed the finish line 39 seconds behind Contador.
Contador gained 39 seconds on Schleck
Advantage: Contador by 8 seconds.
Stage 17. In a tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Pyrenean climbs' inclusion in the Tour de France, the peloton finished atop the legendary Col du Tourmalet for only the second time in Tour history. The 18.6km
hors categorie ascent to 2,115m, the Tour's highest point, would be the final climb of the 2010 Tour and a fitting battleground for Contador and Schleck to put their climbing talent to the test for overall GC supremacy.
10 kms from the Tourmalet summit, Schleck attacked the yellow jersey group and only Contador could follow. The dynamic climbing duo soon dispatched remaining riders from the early break, and flew through the dense fog to the summit finish. Schleck tried desperately to dispatch Contador, but the day ended in a stalemate as the pair finished in the same time with the Luxembourger picking up his second stage win of the Tour. Contador, however, remained in yellow by the same margin as the stage began: eight seconds.
Contador and Schleck finished together
Advantage: Contador by 8 seconds.
Stage 19 Contador was heavily favoured against Andy Schleck in the final time trial, but the Luxembourg TT champ didn't go down without a fierce effort to wrest yellow from the Spaniard. Contador trailed Schleck by two seconds at the first time check, but steadily turned things around to lead Schleck by seven seconds at the second time check and ultimately 31 seconds at the finish. Contador sealed his third Tour de France victory with a 39-second advantage over Schleck, which just happened to be the same margin of time which the Luxembourger surrendered to Contador during "Chain-gate" on stage 15.
Contador gained 31 seconds on Schleck
Advantage: Contador by 39 seconds.
These guys are mates and are going to fight it out over the next 3-4 years. They are very evenly matched in the mountains (although i think Contador could have ridden off on Schleck on the Tourmalet) and Contador holds a slight advantage in the TT. Look for a mountain top TT next year!
Mark Cavendish
There is no faster sprinter in the world, there has possibly never been a faster sprinter in the world. The Manx missile is unbeatable in a bunch finish.
He won five stages to take his tally to 15 stages in just 3 years. He did it without strongman Adam Hansen and from late in the race without his lead out man Mark Renshaw. He said he wanted to win the Green Jersey more than anything this year, but this year found himself 11 points adrift of Alessandro Petacchi. The big Italian won two stages in the first week, but Cav crashed in stage 1 and missed the sprint (team mate Hansen was 2nd there) and the points that would have won him the Mailot Vert. Taking nothing away from Ale-Jet though, With his green jersey victory, Petacchi has now one the sprinter's jersey in all three grand tours. He now has 46 grand tour stage wins in his career, putting him among the best sprinter's ever to race their bikes But as far as beating Cav in a fair fight - no.
Next year Cav.
The French Cycling Renaissance
Twenty-five years ago Bernard Hinault won the Tour de France. Laurent Jalabert retired in 2002. Those two events represent the last time a Frenchman won the Grande Boucle, and the last great champion the country has produced. The last eight years have had some bright spots for France, but those moments were fleeting, with success on cycling's biggest stages being few and far between - until now.
The French stepped up to the mark this year with an incredible 6 stage wins, 2 days in Yellow and the King of the mountains.
Sylvain Chavanel (twice), Christophe Riblo, Thomas Voeckler, Perrick Fedrigo and Sandy Cassar all won stages and Chavanel held the Golden Fleece. Add to this the Combativity Award (Chavanel) and the Mountains Classification to Jerome Pineau and you can see the the French have every reason to be excited.
The last time France won six stages of its home Tour was back in 1997, and this was in the “pre-Festina” era. Since that time the French have claimed that cycling was conducted at deux-vitesses (two-speeds), as French riders claimed – not entirely unreasonably – that they were subjected to far more controls than those of other nations. Foreigners, they claimed, could dope, but the French had to ride clean.
Drug Free!!
Dare I say it but another Drug free TdF. I believe the close margins we have seen over the past 4 years (2009 aside) show that the war on drugs in pro cycling is being won. The big advantages of having the best gear are gone, it is just men on bikes now. The best way to eliminate drugs is to use the science and technology that already exists today to help eliminate the possibility of getting the huge benefit from taking doping products. Look at this link http://www.sportsscientists.com/ for more. Amazing Stuff.
and another thing.......
Lance was ordinary, Cadel Evans was ordinary (again - I'm sick of feeling sorry for him), Sastre was poor. More evidence of the changing of the guard in pro cycling!
The Route
Bravo again to Christian Prudholme. Last year I said that the only way they will beat Contador is less TT and more mountains. Somehow the message got through and the TdF director delivered. Added to that was the spectable of the Cobblestones in the first week. This was the best Tou in years, interesting from the start, interesting routes, stages and finishes. Bravo.
The Future.
The lid is about to get blown off cycling in a big way. Landis has confessed, Armstrong has been subpoenaed to appear in court. Something is going to come of this.
The Merry Go Round is going to have a few on it again this year.
Team Schleck - Frank and Andy are splitting with Bjarne Riis and starting their own Luxembourg squad. Contador is leaving Astana and taking 4 other Spaniards with him. Where to? Well Contador has a personal sponsorship with bike maker Specialized, Riis is looking for a new sponsor (Saxo Bank are out), Specialized already involved with Riis as sponsor of Saxo Bank, and Riis needs a new leader. My bet is on Team Specialized managed by Bjarne Riis and led by Alberto Contador.
Schlecks announcement this week: "It's official that we will not be riding with Bjarne next season."
"We're not going to stay. We're going to leave at the end of the year. All the doubts and news about us racing in the same team as Contador are now finished. We're not going to continue."
Funny that - no one had reported or was it rumored that Schleck and Contador would be riding in the same team - i think Andy told us where Contador is off to!
Menchov to Astana to fill the void i would think.
The rest of the Year..
The UCI pro tour calendar from here in.
31.07.2010 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian - San Sebastian
01.08.2010 Tour de Pologne
15.08.2010 Vattenfall Cyclassics
17.08.2010 Eneco Tour
22.08.2010 GP Ouest France - Plouay
22.08.2010 Vuelta a España
10.09.2010 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
12.09.2010 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
03.10.2010 World Championships
16.10.2010 Giro di Lombardia
