TOUR DE FRANCE (2)

In my blog on the Giro d'Italia (30/5/10), I said that this year's Tour would be a straight fight between Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador, with Contador winning. And so it proved, the Spaniard winning the 3-week epic by just 39 seconds.

Supporters of the personable Saxo Bank rider will point out that those 39 seconds are exactly what Schleck lost on the 15th stage in the Pyrenees to Bagneres-de-Luchon. Wearing the yellow jersey at the time by 31 seconds, Schleck attacked on the last climb before the downhill finish, and seemingly got a gap. But then at the critical moment, his chain jumped, forcing him to stop and put it back on. Contador, Samuel Sanchez and Denis Menchov all attacked, and had 15 seconds on Schleck by the summit, a gap which they increased on the fast descent to the finish.

There was a lot of discussion afterwards about whether it was "fair" for Contador to attack when the yellow jersey was vulnerable in this way. Personally, I think it was OK; punctures, crashes and mechanical failures are all part of the sport, and one of the reasons for its unpredictability and excitement. Besides, Schleck had not stopped for Contador when the latter was hampered by a crash in front of him on the cobblestone stage in the first week.

No, the real reasons Schleck lost were twofold. First, his elder brother Frank crashed out on the paves and broke his collarbone. With both Schlecks in the race, and the elder in the form of his life, they could have taken turns to attack Contador in the mountains and run his team ragged, in the same way that Carlos Sastre and Frank Schleck softened up Cadel Evans in 2008 (Sastre taking the victory). Secondly, Andy Schleck lost 42 seconds to Contador in just 9km in the wet prologue in Rotterdam (which means that the other 3,000 + kilometers were pretty much a dead heat). More than anything, that shows just how important it is in a stage race to race every single stage.

Contador has now won the last five 3-week Grand Tours he has entered; three Tours de France, one Giro d'Italia and one Vuelta d'Espana. That's a terrific achievement. He is talking about not doing the Tour next year, but going for the Giro/Vuelta double, as he did in 2008. If so, that will leave the field clear for Andy Schleck, as it did for Sastre. Otherwise, the Contador/Schleck rivalry will liven up cycling's premier event for years to come.

Walter Blotscher