8 secs between Contador and Schleck

[Dombo]

Perhaps a numpty question, but with the TT on Saturday and flat stage today, could we yet see a Schleck win? Barring a crash of course, but could that narrow gap be closed and then some to see Schleck win overall?

[Andrew G]

Can't see Astana letting him pick up seconds on the road and the green jersey it a close competition so Petacchi and Hushovd will want the sprints, so that more or less rules out today and Sunday. Schleck was always rubbish in a TT, apparantly he's been training at it and has improved but he'd have to have improved a lot to catch up the deficit he had to Contador in a TT, who's always been good at them.

Can't see Schleck beating Contador now unless Contador falls off, the best chance of that would be a wet TT but then Schleck's never been a very good bike handler so would be more likely to come a cropper than Contador on a greasy roundabout. He's improved a lot, same with his descending (both Schlecks used to be shocking), he must have been told to go out with Cancellara every day and learn how to descend, handle his bike, and time trial .

I'm not going to the bookies .

[Sylv]

There's probably a 500-post thread on cyclingnews forum about this

Shame Shleck is not in yellow, cos if Contador fell ahead of him on the tt he'd have to wait for him - that would be funny

[Dombo]

But if, say, Schleck were in the breakaway group, 2 mins ahead of the peloton, and held them off til the finish, then he'd be in the lead over Contador? Or is it simply that if Schleck even tried to join a breakaway he'd be chased down and caught immediately so it simply wouldn't be worth his effort?

[-Adam-]

Schleck will not be allowed in a breakaway, nor will he even contemplate doing so. There are no time bonuses in the Tour.

So his only option is to ride faster than Contador in the TT tomorrow, will be interesting to watch...

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Scleck has two hopes, Bob hope and no hope. Not worth going to the bookies.

[Snoop Doug]

Maybe Contador will have a moment and turn up for the TT dressed in that hilarious white suit he wears on the SIDI ad. Having done a TT in a dress, I reckon that suit would put Schleck back in yellow.

I can dream...

[Roy Green]

Al this talk about 'no hope' for Andy Schleck — must have been some hasty mental revisian when he pulled a few seconds in in the TT!

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

[quote="Roy Green"]Al this talk about 'no hope' for Andy Schleck — must have been some hasty mental revisian when he pulled a few seconds in in the TT!

[Andrew G]

Don't start too fast, don't start too fast, don't start too fast.

AS has improved at testing but as Jon said AC was well down on his normal testing form and still comfortably beat him. Kept it exciting 'til the 3rd checkpoint though .