I just remembered I wanted to mention Bert Grabsch. What a couple of days that guy has ridden. All of Columbia have been stunning in this first pair of road stages, but Grabsch has stood out. He has a lot riding on him tomorrow, too.
Chuffy said:
That makes sense, except that it was hurting Bertie too. Columbia were working with their entire team and Skil-Shimano were also having a go, presumably to please sponsors and make friends with the big boys, so why help them? I'm not suggesting that Astana should have pulled the three back to help relay Bertie to the breakaway, but the extra effort seems above and beyond what was necessary.
It wasn't hurting Bertie - he hasn't lost a second on any major rival outside his team and his own team-mate has gained 40 seconds. As I said, it strengthens his hand. The higher Armstrong is the more problems it gives to other teams deciding which attacks need to be chased down in the mountains. The two Astana boys were right to work to eek it out as much as possible. I can't understand how anyone could put a negative spin on that.
Cavendish seems to be a bit like Marmite, we obviously won't agree there.