Cadel - Alone on the mountain
But last night on the famed Alpe d'Huez stage he lived the nightmare that he had been expecting for about a week now. The CSC team smacked the life out of not only him but the rest of the bunch. The winner, Carlos Sastre, was the beneficiary of some on road thuggery by a team so dominant, if they don't win the Tour, may have to abandon and pack up the whole show. When you look at the CSC team, their talent far outweighed anyone at the race and then the team plan was executed with a ruthlessness that professional cycling has not seen for a few seasons.
My question is to the Silence Lotto team. Where were you on Stage 17? We highlighted in the Stage 17 Touroscopy that one of the chief culprits on this day was Yaroslav Popovych. He was some 16 minutes back at the end of the stage which is ok if he was any help at all to his leader. Stage 16 saw him in a chase for personal glory after doing nothing to help Evans. He effectively burnt himself out for the stage of the Tour that everyone knew was going to be the most crucial to the general classification. Silence Lotto knew they had a real chance with Cadel this season. They might have just effectively blew the Tour with a roster that was not up to controlling the race.
The burning question from now to the weekend is how mush time is enough for the CSC plan to be realised.
Back
Comments (4)
by Craig, 26 July 2008Cadel busted his guts on Alpe d'huez. There were a lot of guys that showed no intent on trying to claw back Sastre, all they wanted to do was sit on Cadels wheel until 1km to go and then shoot out around him.
by Phil, 25 July 2008Valverde may as well be riding for CSC he has helped them that much since he was put out of contention on the early mountain stages.
Poor Cadel! he showed sooo much fight but his team have no heart. I like everyone else cant understand what the deal is with Silence Lotto, there were endless opportunites for Cadel's team mates to get back to the peleton after being dropped on the first two climbs. Cadel has been the most consistent rider of the tour, its a shame his team dont have half the spirit (or talent) of CSC.
by dale, 24 July 2008One thing to think about though! Cadel took 1:16 out of Sastre on the last time trial over only 29 kilomtres. There will be nowhere or no one to hide behind for Sastre on Saturday. Its him, Cadel and the clock and I will be awake like half of Australia to see our boy give it a good old crack.
GO CADEL!!!
popovych was a disgrace! he left cadel high and dry... what is the point of hiring him if he is let out to race on his own?
by Beav, 24 July 2008Makes no sense to me that Popovych gets to set his own race plan..and if he is going against team instructions why isn't he dropped from the team..there must be something going on there we don't know about,cause it all just doesn't make sense.
Also why did a team who had the overall favourite on their team not have the ability to recruit some better team mates to ensure the win? Did they spend all their money on Cadel?