Contador Bad sportmanship ?

[TNT1]

Holtz had just started his interview with Contador, by asking him for his thoughts on a stage that started fiercely for the yellow jersey group and ended up rather tamely for them…

 

Alberto Contador: It was certainly a hard stage. Right from the second kilometre of the stage there were only 14 riders in the peloton.

 

Gérard Holtz: There were whistles on the podium. Did it shock you to hear that?

 

AC: No, I can respect why…

 

GH: Hang on, sorry for interrupting you, but we’ve got another guest here. Andy, can you sit down? Alberto?

 

AC: We are very good friends and we can’t let that friendship be ruined by what has happened.

 

GH: Andy, what do you think when you hear Alberto say that?

 

Andy Schleck: We did speak to each other today. What we all saw yesterday was not something that you want to see in a race, but sometimes things like that do happen. Alberto said to me that it was simply something that’s part of racing. I told him that it’s all fine now. The Tour de France is going to be won by the rider with the best legs, and there is certainly going to be a great battle between the two of us the day after tomorrow.

 

GH (referring to the video that Contador posted on Youtube in the evening after stage 15): Alberto, is it true that you apologised to Andy?

 

AC: Yes. I didn’t need to. But we’ve got a very strong friendship and it was for that reason that I wanted to apologise yesterday evening.

 

AS: I realise that after what happened at Spa the race could already have been over for me. That day the peloton waited for me. Yesterday the situation wasn’t the same, and I realised that I shouldn’t fret about it too much.

 

GH: You’re like now two boxers preparing for the final rounds on the last Pyrenean stage and also in the final time trial.

 

AS: Yes, eight second is nothing at all.

 

GH: Laurent Fignon and Greg LeMond know that all too well…

 

AS: In the final week of the Tour de France eight seconds between him and me is nothing at all. I think that the Tour will be decided on the Tourmalet and that the first one to the summit will be the man who wins the Tour de France.

 

GH: Can you also tell those members of the public who have been jeering Alberto that they should stop because once again today there was a scene that was disrespectful of all those who love cycling…

 

AS: Yes, er…

 

GH: Can you say it directly into that camera?

 

AS (looking directly into the camera): Everyone stop that! Do it for me.

 

GH: That’s good to hear because I think it is right to respect the yellow jersey and also to respect great champions.

 

AC: I just want to say many, many thanks for that my friend.

 

GH: Thank you to both of you champions.

[TNT1]

Focking Russian.

Menchov responded to the attack from Contador and said that he was focusing on following the Spaniard, rather than checking out what was going on with Schleck. "I can't explain [what happened with Schleck] because I didn't see what happened. We know that Alberto and Andy play with each other. We have to follow one of them. I saw the reaction of Contador and I thought it was decisive, so I tried to follow him," Menchov said.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/menchov-focused-on-contador-didnt-know-about-schleck

[Slowbee]

you are not allowed to be pushed to get going again ?

 

 

what about slipstreaming a car ?

[fandacious]

you are not allowed to be pushed to get going again ?

 

 

what about slipstreaming a car ?

 

technically, no, on both accounts.

 

but they almost never enforce it.

[Slowbee]

are riders allowed to push each other uphill ? (as opposed to off the bike)

[rattlesnake]

I remember the duals between Jan Ulrich and Lance Armstrong... if one fell off or had a mechanical the other one waited. That way the winner was always determined based on outright performance on the bike.

 

I think Contador was affraid that he couldnt stay with Andy for the rest of the climb, if he wins he wont be a true champion in my mind. I hope Andy comes back even stronger next year!

[fandacious]

are riders allowed to push each other uphill ? (as opposed to off the bike)

 

i think so, yes - no OUTSIDE assistance is allowed.

 

also, with mechanicals, only your teammates are allowed to give parts/bikes

[Slowbee]

then when they change a wheel from the team car, is that an overlooked rule ?

[fandacious]

then when they change a wheel from the team car, is that an overlooked rule ?

 

sorry, when i say team mates, it includes team car, but not other team cars or other riders

[Slowbee]

I remember the duals between Jan Ulrich and Lance Armstrong... if one fell off or had a mechanical the other one waited. That way the winner was always determined based on outright performance on the bike.

 

I think Contador was affraid that he couldnt stay with Andy for the rest of the climb, if he wins he wont be a true champion in my mind. I hope Andy comes back even stronger next year!

 

I think the comparison to the Jan/Lance one is not fair.

 

AC had other other riders in front of him as well. If Schleck did bounce a chain, and AC had to wait those other guys would have got a massive jump that would have been hard to recover.

[TNT1]

sorry, when i say team mates, it includes team car, but not other team cars or other riders

 

Or that Mavic yellow bike or car thingy...

[TNT1]

Did you hear on yesterday's stage, Phil jokingly suggesting that the entire bunch should have stopped when Roche punctured....

[Slowbee]

just another thing then .. how many riders start the TTT ? (there is not one this year). How many riders start the TTT, and how many have to finish ? Can you swop bikes if the main riders has an issue ?

[TNT1]

just another thing then .. how many riders start the TTT ? (there is not one this year). How many riders start the TTT, and how many have to finish ? Can you swop bikes if the main riders has an issue ?

 

The entire team starts, which is why traditionally the TTT is early on in a tour so all teams can be equal in numbers.

Yes, you can get a new bike, wheel change whatever.

[Slowbee]

right so while my slow brain is moving a bit faster than usual, during the jan/lance dual thing. Had there been two or three other riders further up the hill - would one of them waited had the other picked up a problem?

[TNT1]

Probably not.