Eddy Merckx, the man many regard as the best cyclist in history, has warned the Schleck brothers that Alberto Contador may have found his legs that saw him dominate the Giro d’Italia in May.
Writing for Het Nieuwsblad, Merckx said, “I think the Schlecks have not slept last night. They will have seen what I saw: this is a reborn Alberto Contador. The Spaniard took his legs from the Giro back yesterday.”
Along with many other accolades during his successful career, Merckx has himself won the Tour de France five times and knows what it takes to achieve yellow in Paris. On close inspection of yesterday’s stage where Andy and Fränk Schleck lost time to Contador, Cadel Evans and Samuel Sanchez, Merckx said it became clear to him why the brothers could not gain more time on their rivals in the Pyrenees.
“I do not think they could have improved,” he said. He also added that they had a lot of courage but questioned their true physical strength in the earlier mountain stages.
The race now face three tough days as they make their way towards the heart of the Alps. The Belgian warned the Schleck brothers that the must lay down the gauntlet now, or face losing the race in the coming days.
“Whether they regroup today, they have to strike in the next two days, or they will drop completely from the chance of victory.”
Contador still has his work cut out for him too and he lags behind in sixth place overall. Evans – who is currently second overall - is known as a strong time trialist. The Spaniard will need to be more or less equal on time with the former world champions going into Saturdays time trial in Grenoble, if he is to successfully defend his title.
Merckx also commented on the leader of the race currently, Thomas Voeckler, warning the favourites to be wary of the Europcar leader. “I saw yet another noble Thomas Voeckler who still has 1'45''ahead of Cadel Evans. If the Frenchman does not crack in the next three days, then the favourites will have their work cut out for them in the time trial in Grenoble.”
Merckx has remained involved in professional cycling during his retirement, working with race organisers such as ASO who own the Tour de France. He also owns the bicycle manufacture company Eddy Merckx Cycles, currently ridden by Quick Step.