Andrew76 said:
I dont think any of us can truly understand whether Astana's tactics were right or otherwise.
I would have thought stage wins rate higher than 3rd on the GC which might be the best Kloden can hope for - so why go for 3rd when you can get the glory. Maybe Kloden knew he did not have it in him to attack Ras/Contador?
Assuming Cadel is close enough to guess better than we can the answers to these questions, I think his comments on Astana probably have some validity.
I definitely agree with Cadel on his frustration at the lack of team support. Chris Horner is riding well, but he is no Boogerd or Popo - he is always at the rear of the group.
Sure, build the team around Robbie, but surely one more quality climber to help Cadel would go a long way? There are six "flat road" riders out there doing little more than act as advertising signs for Predictor Lotto. They have not even been in breakaways.
That being said, I dont think that would mean the difference between Cadel coming 3rd and 2nd or 1st (as Cadel himself basically admits). He has ridden to his potential and with luck might get 3rd (due respect to Kloden). He has certainly ridden a better race than the last two years.
the rode poorly in the first stage letting Rass out of sight. It was obvious he had been doing work on his tt.
I think he prologue was a softpedal bluff also. Gave him enough leeway to go up the road. It would have been interesting if Rogers followed him, and timetrialled like Vino, and climbed like Cadel.
Just to confirm, I think he would have timetrialled like Kashechkin, and climbed like Kashechkin, so he would have been about where Cadel is now had he hung on to Rassmussen's wheel in the first stage.
I think Cadel would be about 60 seconds better off, perhaps even 2 minutes better off, if he had Sastre in his team to work for him.
But Evans has never proved to be superior to the second tier contenders, like Leipheimer, Sastre, Menchov, so he could never demand them to work for him. If they came to Predictor they would be co-leaders.
Evans needs Devolder and Heras, and Horner and Cioni need 2 year contracts on guaranteed money, and told to forget about their early season.
Heras last man, Devolder second last, then Horner, and Cioni. Evans needs a tempo climbing, he cannot really go with those damn lightweights when they attack left and right. He has done credibly, and should not be criticised for not attacking when he went over his limit just to defend. Everyone does what they can.
with a team like
Evans
Heras
Devolder
Horner
Cioni
Vansummeren
Hoste
Vansevenant
Mcewen
Vansevenant is the bidon carrier, and Hoste positions Mcewen for the sprint at 3km. Mcewen returns to his late 90's style and pilots himself by following wheels. As we saw this year, Mcewen would have been better hanging on wheels than using Freddie, and Rodriguez was waiting for the perfect opening and slingshot, and the leadout never eventuated. Mcewen was left 12 wheel with 300 to go, and in the pack.
Conceded, Mcewen and Freddie were suffering from injuries. Hoste can easily put Mcewen on Boonen's wheel in the last 10 km, and if anyone can hold an adversaries wheel, Mcewen can. The way I see it, the team needed another one, or atleast 2 fast men, like Mcgee and Renshaw, just to put Freddie in a position to leadout Mcewen. There is just too much depth. If you have the requisite strength, you are better to go by yourself like Hunter. Hunter would be worse with a leadout man, because it would be like Freddie, with less strength, grasping for wheels at the back. Hunter is strong enough to get great position, and then strong enough to sprint, albeit, with some of his kick sapped.
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