WHAT REMAINS: Thursday morning we published the first part of a Top 10 major mountain stages of the Tour's history. Something tells me it will soon incorporate the 18th stage of the 2011 edition. The highest stage finish in the history of the Tour gave birth to a great moment in cycling. This is due in large part to Andy Schleck, author of a number worthy of the great ones. I will come back. But which ranged combat with Cadel Evans! The Australian started the Galibier shabby not to lose the Tour and Thomas Voeckler has done well to keep his yellow jersey. Twenty days in yellow for the Alsatian. Two times ten. It's beautiful. But beyond the epic that has raised this point in the legend and anchor it permanently in our memories, there is an information, gross: four riders are now 1'12 "to Evans in Voeckler passing through the two Schleck. The others dropped out. This is not what he will in ten years, but it's all that matters today.
What we liked: Andy Schleck has become someone else on Thursday. He joined the galaxy of great champions of the Tour that, until now, it was not. He finally erupted into the open what was in it for so long. It made us mad to procrastinate. But to win the Tour, he had no choice. He had to do what he had never done: take risks. This could happen to him better at the bottom. Last year, he calculated, finassé and it cost him the Tour. There, it was not possible. The plan of the Leopard-Trek was well mounted, with Posthuma and Monfort as scouts, and was perfectly realized. But this feat is that of Andy Schleck. From the Izoard was worthy of the greatest. Resist the Galibier, it is very strong. He had already won the Tourmalet. Nice collection. But this victory-there is none. I hope now that Andy Schleck will win this Tour. Obviously, I'd be happy to see Voeckler in yellow in Paris and I have nothing against either Evans or against Frank Schleck. But after such a feat, Andy deserves this Tour. But then, the Tour does not care about a lot of merit.
WHAT A DISAPPOINTED: He had taken the bull by the horns the past two days, suggesting that the real Alberto Contador was back. But such a step, beyond Agnel, Izoard and Galibier, it is no more pretense. Double defending champion, the Spaniard has probably made his crown today. In the morning, we saw the car to visit medical. Her knee pain had awakened, according to his manager Bradley McGee. It was not a good sign. It was not more to see trainer back of the pack in the first two climbs. In the Galibier, Contador held onto, but at home, simply is not to attack the confession of weakness. I have not been surprised to see it collapse to three kilometers from the summit. But I regret the collapse, because if Contador had legs, this end could have been even grander. The Giro and Tour in early fall will have had the better of him. Bad day for Spain, as Samuel Sanchez sold too.
NOW WHAT? Hard not to imagine that we have just experienced the climax of the Tour. After a stage as beautiful, intense, then the risk of sounding bland. Except that this 98th edition has yet to deliver its verdict. And something tells me we are not at the end of our surprises. The day on Friday looks terrible with the Telegraph, Galibier in the other direction and, finally, Alpe d'Huez. A menu scary. Watch out, especially since the stage is only 109 km. How will Andy Schleck he recovered from his great raid? And Cadel Evans? He has not tapped into its reserves in the last 20 miles? Frank Schleck will he pick up all this beautiful world with a spoon vengeance to his disillusionment in 2008, mounted on the same? Thomas Voeckler will he extend the deadline again? The Tour is often played in Alpe, do not forget.
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