The Tour of France

[RichC]

Looks like Andy Schleck is making a go for it, can't believe he'll get away for long though

[ningnangnong]

Yeah, he'll do very well to maintain a gap all the way to the stage finish.

[RichC]

he's really giving it a good crack by the looks of it though, quite shocked Contador at least didn't try and cover the break.

[ningnangnong]

That gap just keeps on increasing. The peloton are too busy faffing about.

[RichC]

you've got to be impressed with Schleck today, he went all in for this break and has made it stick, he's got to be looking good for the yellow overall now, can't see Contador doing it now, too much to do with too little left of the tour.

[ningnangnong]

This is inspirational stuff from Cadel Evans.

Single-handedly closing the gap.

[livvy145]

Schleck will be caught. This is Evans' to lose now, imo.


I have been wrong in the past, many, many times.

[livvy145]

Got to be impressed with Voeckler

[livvy145]

Contador has been left behind

[livvy145]

Great win for Andy Schleck, now lets see if Voeckler will still be in yellow tonight

[ningnangnong]

Voeckler still holds the maillot jaune by 15 seconds.

Amazing ride from Andy Schleck.

[Neil Young]

Great attack - about time. It was the only way either of the Schlecks stood a chance - don't leave it until the last climb.

They're in a good position now - Andy doesn't have to attack tomorrow but Frank does, if he can. The question is, if Andy's legs are feeling the pain of today, will Frank attack the other favourites and, effectively, his brother? History suggests not.

Great rides from Evans and Voeckler today too.

And Contador obviously didn't have steak for dinner last night. Although it's a pity if it is a genuine knee injury - I was looking forward to him going all out tomorrow.

It's a great Tour, especially since it now isn't going to be tainted by any retrospective action if Contador loses his court case.

[RichC]

Great attack - about time. It was the only way either of the Schlecks stood a chance - don't leave it until the last climb.

They're in a good position now - Andy doesn't have to attack tomorrow but Frank does, if he can. The question is, if Andy's legs are feeling the pain of today, will Frank attack the other favourites and, effectively, his brother? History suggests not.

Great rides from Evans and Voeckler today too.

And Contador obviously didn't have steak for dinner last night. Although it's a pity if it is a genuine knee injury - I was looking forward to him going all out tomorrow.

It's a great Tour, especially since it now isn't going to be tainted by any retrospective action if Contador loses his court case.

great tour

didn't Contador win it last year partly down to poor sportsmanship with one of the Schlecks chains coming off?

[Neil Young]

It depends how you see it. I think the consensus now is Schleck attacked and then his chain came off. So it was a racing incident - bad luck but that's tough, just like falling on a descent or having a puncture after the real race has already started.

Of course it would have been unsporting if, say, a spectator had caused the problem or if everyone was going along quietly, Schleck lost his chain and Contador tried to exploit it. But that's not how it was.

I admit that's not how I saw it at the time. But that's Sean Kelly's view and it makes sense to me. Certainly though others still see it differently.

It was a very unfortunate coincidence that Schleck lost 39 seconds that day and that Contador's final winning margin in Paris was...39 seconds.

[RichC]

ouch!! I just remember the incident and noises being made afterwards about it being unsporting.

It's been one of the best tours I can remember for ages, and any of the top 4 I think could still win it (Voeckler is in this due to him still being in yellow)