Contador has no regrets about the yellow jersey
In the 15th stage of the 2010 Tour de France, Andy Schleck lost the yellow jersey to his Tour-long closest rival, Alberto Contador. 3km to go before the summit to the final climb, the two race leaders were going head-to-head, Contador trying to close the 31-second gap to the yellow jersey wearer, and Schleck trying to gain the maximum advantage for the decisive time trial on Saturday.
Schleck failed in his effort due to a dropped bike chain, which nearly threw him from his bike and require a 28 second road-side repair. Contador, two-time Tour de France champion, finished the stage 39 seconds ahead, for an overall lead of eight seconds and at least a day in the yellow jersey.
This event has brought to mind Contador’s actions in stage 2, when a chaotic took out both Schleck brothers, as well as Contador and Lance Armstrong, and others. At this point, Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel was already well ahead of the peloton, having executed a first escape at 10km, and he took his chance to sprint for the win and take the green jersey.
“With regard to the falls that have disrupted the peloton… well, often the misfortune of some makes the happiness of others,” said Chavanel’s QuickStep teammate Jerome Pineau, who took the polka-dot jersey in that stage and has held it for seven days since. “This allowed Sylvain to win the stage and take the yellow jersey, but I do not think he will win the Tour de France! Anyway, all the favourites were able to regroup in the peloton and finish together.”
The remarkable thing about the event is that the reason the favourites were able to regroup was because Contador told them to. The Spaniard managed to execute a gentlemen’s strike and allow the Schleck brothers and other victims to regroup with the peloton before anybody would chase Chavanel, though by that point the stage winner was much too far ahead to be caught. This leaves many people asking the question: ‘Why didn’t Contador wait this time?’
"On the Spa stage I told my teammates to stop without knowing at that time whether the riders who were in the lead would do the same,” said Contador. “Those are the circumstances of racing and I knew there would be some debate about this incident. I attacked before he had a problem with his chain and was a long way ahead when I heard what had happened."
The Spaniard was rigid about that point throughout relentless questioning – the incident was just part of bicycle racing. He explained to the French press that the two Tour leaders had been marking each other throughout the stage and one of them had to attack at some point. When Contador was told what had happened, he said, he was already well ahead and it was too late to give up the escape. The Astana team leader could understand Schleck’s bad temper, but will not accept the blame.
"When it happened I was on the attack and the most important thing for me is that I gained time today,” said Contador. “For me it doesn't change anything. The goal is still Paris. I will keep focused on the race and trying to extend my advantage on several riders who are close to me in the standings."
The new Tour leader will certainly feel the force of a reinvigorated Schleck, an opponent with something to prove. The younger of the Luxembourg brothers will take energy knowing that his brother Frank is watching from home. The older Schleck had to abandon the Tour after the crash in the second stage, when Contador waited for them to rejoin the peloton, a favour the Spaniard failed to repeat.
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