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BOBKE: BOB ROLL'S TOUR REPORT: THE ANDY VS, ALBERTO BATTLE & ASK BOBKE
Bobke
July 13, 2010
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Today was beautiful. It was fantastic…well, unless you were Cadel Evans. One word to describe Cadel? I’d say allergic…Cadel seems like he’s allergic to the yellow jersey. What many people didn’t know, actually what his team didn’t even know, was that he was riding with a broken elbow. Say what you will about Cadel Evans, but I don’t think people should be so dismissive of him. Today he was courageous in defeat and he deserves some credit for not only trying to stay with those guys, but to do so over some of the most gruesome climbs in Europe.
As for Schleck and Contador, their race today was magnificent. Andy was all in and today he tried to win the Tour, but Alberto was on his game. Their battle today was as good as it gets. They were duking it out like a couple of prize fighters trading punches. I have to say it was odd to see them doing track stands on the climb, but it shows that they respect one another. I think Andy learned that with Alberto you can’t just race him, to beat him you have to drop him. But the way they were both reefing on the pedals was a great show.
Astana has shown themselves to be solid in the mountains, but from now on look for Saxo to do their work – they’ll know what to do and when, and, they have the horsepower.
Two questions for Bobke:
1. With word that the Schleck brothers are leaving Saxo Bank (and that Bjarne Riis has already secured a new sponsor), who do you think Specialized would follow for 2011? That’s a good question…I don’t know the inside story of course, but I’d say the Schlecks.
2. Today Andy Schleck joined his brother Frank as a yellow jersey winner – have there been any other brother acts in yellow? Francois & Pascal Simon were two of four cycling brothers who wore yellow. Francois held it three days in the ’01 Tour and Pascal wore yellow for seven days in 1983. I think the Swede Gosta Petterson (3rd @ 1970 TdF, 1st @’71 Giro) and one of his brothers might also be in there.
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