Tourminator

This stage looked like difficult on paper with two difficult mountain climbs in the last half of the race. However, with the last 40km a downhill drag to the finish and team SKY holding the peloton by the scruff of the neck, the GC contenders just let the breakaway go.

Of the final 5 riders, the most amazing ride was made by the revelation of this year’s race, Peter Sagan, although RABOBANK’s Luis Leon Sanchez outwitted the quintet. Sagan was dropped on the steeper sections of the ultimate climb but doggedly chased, then caught and dropped the leading duo of Sanchez and Philippe Gilbert. Unfortunately for Sagan, Sanchez was equally dogged and he slipped away with 10km to go wand was never seen until the finish.

At this point in his young career, this 22yo Slovak seems to do it all exceptionally well- sprint, ride the cobbles, descend, time trial- and last night, he showed patience and climbing skills as well. He never panicked when he was dropped, rode within his limits. Sagan has already 3 stage wins in this years Tour, is wearing a the green points jersey, and could probably win another stage before the Tour ends. That’s why he’s called as the, “Tourminator”.

What was Pierre Rolland Thinking?

There is an unwritten rule in cycling that you can’t take advantage on the misfortune of a rival. You can’t attack in a feed zone or attack a rival when he has crashed or has a mechanical problem. So when Cadel Evans and 30 other riders flatted(it was reported that tacks were thrown on the road right after the breakaway had passed. Wiggins wasn’t spared, either),Yellow Jersey Bradley Wiggins told the peloton to wait for Evans but Rolland would have none of it, he attacked!

It was a boneheaded move since Rolland was 8 1/2 minutes behind Wiggins in the overall classification and the breakaway was about 13 minutes ahead. And with 40km to go, all downhill, it would be next to impossible to win the stage and at the same time, keep an angry peloton at bay. It was lose-lose situation.

Why did he do it anyway? If he was to take the overall jersey or he was desperately gunning for a stage win, I’d have no problem with it; it’s a bike race after all. The only reason I can think of is that it may have been a psychological move to challenge the leadership of SKY. However it was a bad, unsporting gesture and sooner or later, his team EUROCAR may need the help of other teams and they won’t be getting it.