Another amazing week at the Tour de France, as the week one crash carnage gave way to dramatic racing as the Tour hit the first huge mountain stages in the Pyrenees. In the end, it was the Frenchman Thomas Voeckler who made out the best, as he emerged as the overall leader of the race by 1:49 over his closest rival Frank Schleck. Even Voeckler himself thought that he would lose the leader's jersey in the Pyrenees, but he climbed amazingly well and distinguished himself as a long shot to win the race overall.
In all liklihood Voeckler will eventually wilt under the continued pressure from the other favorites in the high mountians. But after having gone pedal stroke for pedal stroke with the big favorites in week two, he deserves to be considered as an underdog prospect for overall victory by next weekend in Paris. With almost a two minute lead heading into the final week, another scintillating performance in the mountains may see him head into the Grenoble time trial with enough of a buffer to win the race overall. Again not likely, but he has ridden too well to not consider the possibility of him continuing to ride as well as he has.
Here are other thoughts from the Tour's second week . . .
In week one Frank Schleck looked stronger than his brother, while the roles appeared reversed in the second week. The tandem will continue to be a headache for the rest of the field heading into the final week, as each seem heading toward top form.
Providing he doesn't experience bad luck or a sudden turn of poor form, Cadel Evans looks queued to win his first Tour de France. By far the best time trialist of the top five riders on the GC, Evans needs only to control his rivals, not attack them. If he makes it to the time trial with the same margins he currently enjoys, he's a shoe-in for overall victory.
Ivan Basso, as he always has, is riding well at the Tour. Unfortunately he has already lost time from week one, so an overall win looks like a tough ask. Still, the podium is in his site and with a very difficult final week anything can happen.
Alberto Contador just doesn't seem to have the top-end climbing speed he is used to. His pedaling looks labored and his body seems to rock back and forth more violently than the other top contenders. Unless he finds some contaminated meat to eat ahead of the Alps, his Tour defence looks all but over. Then again it is "El Pistolero". One good shot is all it takes to see him back at the top of the GC. Either way, he has nothing to be ashamed of in this Tour, as he has exhibited class and mental fortitude despite myriad obstacles.
Damiano Cunego and Tom Danielson continue to ride with courage and panache. Amazing to see each toward the front of the field on the toughest climbs.
Thor Hushovd's winning ride on stage 13 was the stuff of legend. A sprinter riding alone to the line on a mountainous stage like Friday's is nothing short of amazing. That he did so in the world champion's kit put the icing on the cake. Amazing Tour for Garmin-Cervelo.
Johnny Hoogerland sits in 10th place on the GC and has made it into the final week of the Tour de France despite terrible injuries sustained back in stage 9. The Tasmanian has cemented himself into Tour lore with a gritty performance after his horrible accident. He looks set to finish the Tour, and should be one of the most celebrated stories when the Tour is over.
The Belgian Jelle Vanendert has been the revelation of this year's Tour. He won his first ever Tour stage with an impressive display of climbing to Plateau de Beille. One thing is for sure: Having come completely out of nowhere, Vanendert's performance in this year's Tour seems too good to be true. Hopefully he's on the up and up, but history tells us he probably isn't.
Vincent Jerome has surrendered the title of last place on the overall to Andrey Amador Bakkazakova of the Movistar team. The 24 year old sits about 8 minutes behind Jerome after two weeks, which should lead to an exciting concluding story at the end of the Tour for last place overall on the GC.
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3 comments:
Despite the bad luck and time loss, my guess is still Alberto Contador. He has never weakened in the course of a GT, and, as you said yourself, one shot is enough to get back in business.
As far as Vanendert is concerned, he had lots of bad luck the previous years. In 2011, he got in the top twenty three times in the Ardennes, after having done lots of hard work for Gilbert. I would give him the benefit of the doubt.
Thanks for sharing your experiences here on your blog.
From a usual reader of your blog I hope you get back to usual posts soon. It is one of the better, informed and enjoyable blogs on cycling on the web.
Keep it up mate!!
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