Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Just 24 hours before their Tour de France showdown on the slopes of the Tourmalet, Alberto Contador opted to avoid the media and enjoy a low key rest day in Pau. However his big rival Andy Schleck was happy to be in the spotlight and held court in front of a hundred journalists.
"The Tour is ending and I'm running out of time. I can't wait until he has a bad day. There's only one chance left and that's tomorrow. I've got to try everything," he said to the media gathered at his feet.
When asked if he would wait for Contador if his chain slips on the Tourmalet, he said: "It won't happen. The Tour won't be decided because of a chain slipping or not."
"When I dropped my chain, the moment I got back on the bike I was 50 seconds back. At the top I was only 15 second down, I bridged a pretty good gap there and that gives me confidence," he said.
"I know I haven't given it everything yet."

“I’m satisfied with the stage win but I also wanted to turn white into yellow but unfortunately it wasn’t possible. I really tried hard, you have to believe me about that. I changed rhythm and I tried everything but I think we’re on the same level on the climbs. Alberto attacked and I could go with him – it was a quick response – but in the end he didn’t sprint to win the stage because I did the most work. I have a lot of respect for that, it shows that he’s a great champion.
“I tried to find out how he was feeling. You need to look at someone to see how he was coping. I think you can find out a lot if you look someone in the eyes. He didn’t have the sunglasses on today so it was possible to see, that’s why I looked so many times. But he always looked good and that’s kind of what killed me.
“El Pistolero is strong, huh? I could no drop him. He was always there. I wanted to find out if he was getting weak but he didn’t succumb. He even attacked me to show, ‘Hey, listen young boy, I’m still here! You better stop playing these games with me.’
“I’m super happy to win this stage today – it’s the Queen stage of this year’s Tour. To win on the Tourmalet is like a win on Alpe d’Huez.
“When I turned to talk to him, I said: ‘You pass?’ And he didn’t. I would have done the same. Why should he pass me? In the end, he let me win the stage and I’m super happy.”

sogood wrote:Thinking back, the way Schleck and Contador dropped the rest of the bunch on those mountain climbs was like A graders dropping D graders on a hill. How can there be that much difference at the top end of pro riders?

brauluver wrote:Who is watching tonight?
Is it worth it for a non event stage?
I'm still undecided as to whether to make the effort or save myself for the TT and final stage.
Thoughts?

bigfriendlyvegan wrote:Others are going to make the similar observations, so I thought I would get my comment in first. When I saw Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz up on the dias, all I could think was where the hell is Bernard Hinault?

David

bigfriendlyvegan wrote:Others are going to make the similar observations, so I thought I would get my comment in first. When I saw Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz up on the dias, all I could think was where the hell is Bernard Hinault?

shiv wrote:Aslo didnt like his effort of raising Contadors hand, isnt that only done in boxing?

jules21 wrote:

shiv wrote:Aslo didnt like his effort of raising Contadors hand, isnt that only done in boxing?

tom cruise is just generally inappropriate and weird, he it out of touch with normality.

AUbicycles wrote:Oh no - with 66km to go - Hollywood has discovered the TDF.

Aushiker wrote:Hi

I notice that there is at least one "AG2R Mondiale" motorcycle. Is this a team motorcycle or one that is use by photographer or for another purpose which happens to be sponsored by AG2R?

Also I notice that Cadel is not wearing his WC jersey in the TT. Is this because the TT is contested in its own right at the World Championship level?

Regards
Andrew

HAKS wrote:

Aushiker wrote:Hi

I notice that there is at least one "AG2R Mondiale" motorcycle. Is this a team motorcycle or one that is use by photographer or for another purpose which happens to be sponsored by AG2R?

Also I notice that Cadel is not wearing his WC jersey in the TT. Is this because the TT is contested in its own right at the World Championship level?

Regards
Andrew

I'm pretty sure AG2R are a larger sponsor of the TdF and hence appear on a number of motorbikes. List of sponsors here

Yeap, Cadel been the road WC only gets to wear the rainbow stripes in road events. Cancellara wears the rainbow colours for the TT. Same goes for national championships, road and TT are separate events and hence you can only wear the national champ jersey in an equivalent event it was won in.

SeanB wrote:Robbie crossing the line over the tourmalet.