What Have We Learned After The Race Of Truth? Not Much

By Ashton | Permalink | 2 comments | July 21st, 2007 | Trackback

At least that’s true if we are trying to predict who will win this year’s Tour. But down in the details we have learned a considerable amount.

First, we have learned that Rasmussen has improved his time trialing much more than Leipheimer has improved his own. I hope the Versus announcers did not expect Rasmussen to ride the inattentive, undisciplined TT that cost him six minutes in the GC a year or two ago. The man said he expects to compete for the Yellow Jersey and he is a professional.

We have learned that Contador could be a real star of the future if he gets the proper coaching and mentoring. The kid flew up the Alps when given the green light and beat Levi in the TT by more than a minute.

We have learned that Contador probably should be the rider to pursue the GC for Team Discovery. Levi can remain captain and help Contador win the race. Contador is young and needs a mentor, but he appears to have the best legs and heart on that team.

We’ve learned that Cadel Evans might need one more really good domestique to win this race. He has the form and the legs, but he might not have enough support at this point.

I think we learned that Alejandro Valverde is tired. He has ridden well but has not done anything to distinguish himself in this race. At least not until today, and that was a distinction he would rather have avoided. Although I tend to be a Discovery fan, I rather thought Valverde might have had the second or third best chance (along with Sastre) behind Vino to win this Tour before it all started. Valverde looked tired today.

I would say we have learned that Vinokourouv has the heart and will of a champion, but I think we knew that already. While all the other original GC contenders have been too conservative to launch any sort of attack, Vino launched two of them in one stage while he still was riding somewhat injured.

According to the old adage, fortune favors the bold. Vino is nothing if not that. I have yet to see that from any of the other GC contenders this year except for Rasmussen and Contador (who was not supposed to compete for the Yellow Jersey).

I was not convinced that Leipheimer had the legs to win this race before it started and I have seen nothing to date to contradict that opinion. Levi claims he is saving himself (sounds rather like a virgin there!) for the Pyrenees. Meanwhile, a bruised and battered Vinokourouv is ravaging every other man on the mountains while practically riding on crutches.

I do appreciate that cycling is a gentleman’s sport. The images of Armstrong and Ulrich waiting for one another to complete their race after misfortune attacked remain clear in my mind. But Vinokourouv is not one of those guys. I do not mean to suggest that he is without honor. But he is ruthless and he is hungry. (Perhaps that is a lesson President George W. Bush should have learned about his military and political enemies while he still retained some of that political capital he talked about a few years ago.)

This still is any one’s race. I would not be the least bit upset to see Vino win it. Same goes for Evans, Sastre, Leipheimer, Rasmussen or Valverde. But if Vino can’t win it, I sure would like to see Contador in Yellow on the final podium. That might help Discovery land a good sponsor for next year. Unless he really has saved himself and unleashes all hell in the Pyrenees, I simply do not see Levi doing that for them.

What an exciting Tour!

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