Friday, April 20, 2007

Week in Cycling

Week long stage races are usually decided by seconds not minutes or quarter of hours. So the tactical wisdom of letting a break in the TOG get a 30 minute lead may be in doubt. Unless the tactics of the teams not represented in the break was to haul out the white flag and shoot for stage wins. Yesterday's time trial was won easily by Levi Leiphemer who might just end up the sole Discovery leader at the Tour if the Basso/Puerto/DNA thing keeps going. Today on the Brasstown Bald should finalize the GC. Brajkovic might be in a position to snag the overall win which would be a great victory for him. Leiphemer makes it 2 stages in a row with a decisive ride on the Brasstown Bald. The GC battle between Brajkovic and Vandevelde continues with Brajkovic still holding the overall. With a race this close some Vino like tactics and aggression will be necessary to upset the GC.
Amstel Gold is Sunday Rabobank and the back on track Oscar Freire have to be favorites. CSC have a strong team ready including the currently racing in Georgia Christin Vandevelde.... straight from the airport to the race? Seeing that he is in 2nd place in Georgia and the race ends Sunday his presence seems unlikely. Valverde will be here prepping for the Ardennes races the following weeeks.

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