Former Maillot Jaune warns current race leader not to dismiss challenge of Menchov and Sanchez
L’Equipe expert analyst Jean Francois Bernard believes that Andy Schleck may have made an error yesterday in not trying to attack Alberto Contador, and feels that the Saxo Bank rider will have just two more opportunities to gain time before the final time trial.
The first comes today, but the final kilometres of the course don’t suit him particularly well. “As he himself said after the stage, I think an advantage of 1'30'' over Alberto Contador is necessary for Andy Schleck to have before the time trial,” wrote Bernard in the paper. “The Port of Balès on Monday, offers a more fertile ground for the accelerations of climbers, with several kilometers of more than 10% slope and sections at 11%. The problem is that the finish will be after a descent towards Bagneres de Luchon and the Luxembourger is less at ease at this than Contador or Samuel Sanchez.”
Schleck is likely to have to distance both riders long before the top if he is to stand a chance of carrying any advantage to the finish. Even if he goes over the top 20 seconds clear, it is hard to envisage a chance for him to remain ahead. The following day’s stage also has a similar pattern, but it is probably even less likely to favour attacks.
“The stage on Tuesday between Luchon and Pau, with a final ascent 60 km from the finish does not lend itself to a personal attack and Saxo Bank does not have enough power to blow up the peloton,” continued Bernard. “The big moment for Andy Schleck might be at the top of the Tourmalet on Thursday. This will please the organizers.”
Yesterday saw the Saxo Bank rider stick like glue to Contador’s wheel, refusing to come past him as he was scared the Astana competitor would use the element of surprise to gap him. Contador has shown in the past that he has perhaps the quickest mountain-side acceleration in the peloton, and this is something which influenced the tactics of the Maillot Jaune.
However the close marking saw both riders drift out of the back of the GC contenders’ group, and while they were able to get back on before the finish, Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) seized the chance to gain time. They only got 14 seconds on those ahead of them in the general classification, but it was an important gain; it inched both of them closer to Schleck, who is a weaker time trialist than both of them and needs to be careful about losing any more time.
“The strategy of Andy Schleck reveals his nervousness,” asserted Bernard. “He is probably more stressed than he wants to show, and is concerned about the accelerations of Contador since the stage to Mende.
“However, the final climb was not the hardest of the Tour and certainly not stiff enough for Contador, who needs to steeper slopes to open differences quickly. Andy Schleck repeats that he must still take time before against the time trial but on Sunday he mainly thought to not lose a second longer.
“The other bad news for the yellow jersey, is that his team has quickly disappeared when Astana have raised the pace in the last two climbs. Even if he failed to drop Schleck, Contador showed the muscles in displaying the strength of his team.”
Bernard warned both Schleck and Contador that it would be a mistake to believe that they are both head and shoulders above the others in the race. “Be careful with the behaviors that may be perceived as a superiority complex,” he stressed. “It could be a mistake to give leeway to Menchov, who won three Grand Tours (two Vueltas and Giro), and Samuel Sanchez, who is able to put pressure on Monday thanks to its descent.”