I snapped this photo of the live coverage playing on my television this morning (and shared via twitter). Maybe not the best photograph of the day’s action, but my god, I was coming out of my skin! At one kilometer to go, he had just about lost the jersey to Schleck. He turned himself inside out over that last one thousand meters and held on.
His face is a mask of pain.
His actual finish time was 2:21 back. He kept the GC lead by a slim 15 seconds over Andy Schleck.
Schleck, to his credit, threw his Schlecktacles in the waste bin and got on with it. I knew he could ride without having his brother at arm’s length. Today’s stage was utterly fantastic. And, I hope to see more of the same tomorrow.
Full write up: http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/news/gutsy-andy-schleck-soloes-for-60k-takes-stage-win-and-positions-for-tour-win_185257.
Gee whiz, if only Cadel had ridden himself into a hole in the first two weeks by his own incompetence, or simply never had a realistic chance to win in the first place so the peloton would have let him go on some long solo attacks, then I would think he was a much better bike racer than if he, oh I don’t know, basically did everything perfectly and pretty much quietly owned the race from start to finish.
quietly, ever so.
Cadel is in a great position, the others get what they deserve.
Hey rogbie, in case you missed the “NOTE: ATTEMPTED HUMOR” appended to my message, I was, you know, attempting to make a joke. Am I to believe you’re not only thin-skinned, but humorless? Sorry, I may not be able to help. Ride on, brother.
Juss kiddin friend, of course. Cadel on the podium with a tear in his eye.. layed it all out there today.
You gotta love the Aussie ! “Step on my dog I’ll slit your throat . ” I’m pretty sure there will be getting “pissed ‘ in Austrailia tonight !
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