Yesterday, for a big mountain stage was very tame, the big names didn’t attack each other but today, being the final mountain stage of the ‘08 Tour, was the last chance for the big climbers to make their mark before Saturday’s time-trial. Get enough time on the TT specialists today and you could well be in with a shout of winning the Tour. Today, however only Carlos Sastre had it in him to properly attack and get the job done. The only question that remains now, is did he get enough time on a time trialing expert like Cadel Evans before Saturday?

Unfortunately I couldn’t get seeing the stage which was a shame, but I was following it on live updates and it was exciting to read how it was unfolding. Fortunately for Sastre, when he attacked nobody could follow and he went on to win the day by 2′03 from Sanchez in second and 2′13 on Frank Schleck down in 5th and take the Yellow Jersey off the shoulders of his team-mate Schleck. It will be interesting to find out whether this was pre-planned as I would have expected Sastre to have been riding for his team-mate while he was in Yellow. Then again, Schleck did not try and chase him down so it leads you to believe that it was agreed Sastre could put in more time than Schleck on the others before Saturday’s time-trial.

It will take viewing to really decide but it seemed like everyone tried to kick at least once to break away from one another once Sastre was up the road but nobody could get the gap as everyone followed. Nobody let anyone ride away, even if their overall time was to much to turn over, such as Valverde’s. All attacks were chased down and noboyd but Sastre broke free.

I suppose that kind of riding comes with the new and for the most part, supposed, ‘drug-free’ era of cycling. All riders suffer and nobody has the legs to get out of the saddle and attack for more than a few yards before zapping their energy.

Still, the stage appears to have been a classic Alp d’Huez ride that has yet again kept the Tour wide open going into the final few days.

It is highly unlikely the next few days will see much happen, but Saturday’s time-trial will undoubtedly settle the outcome of the Tour. Below is a list of the top 7 overall and you can see exactly what TT favourite Cadel Evans has to do to win the Tour.

1 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC     74.39.03
2 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC               +1.24
3 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner           +1.33
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto          +1.34
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank               +2.39
6 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Chipotle       +4.41
7 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne  +5.35

They always say the Yellow Jersey makes you ride better than you normally would. We seen this in mountain stages and time trials in 2006 with Oscar Peirero and could see it again on Saturday with Carlos Sastre. If I had to make a prediction I would still have to say Evans. The TT is long enough for Evans to claw back 1′34 and he will be confident. No doubt though it is a 4 way battle now but baring a miracle from Frank Schleck or Bernhard Kohl, they will be doing little more than fighting for a podium spot.

Category: Pro Road Racing » Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Frank Schleck, Tour de France |

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