Rest day yesterday. Andy and Stuy out of la Vuelta. Riis says "No drinking and biking." They are gone. You think it might be a little kiss off from Riis? No hard feelings there, Right? I don't know but something stinks. So Frank is Andy-less, to be honest Andy has not looked all that great since Paris. Looks like he is looking forward to next year. If I were Frank (let me be frank here) I'd be P-Oed with Andy and Riis.
O'Grady was a little upset with the decision by Riis. The guy has been a stellar rider in the trenches for Riis, he even brought home a Cobble from Roubaix for him. You are going to deny an Aussie a drink? I say how dare you, after everything that Stuy has done, I'd buy him a bar. Rules are like speed limits there is a little wiggle room.
Andy is a younger rider and rules are rules, but the guy just stood on the second step in Paris. Remember that? If he were a water carrier bust him like a water carrier, don't treat talent like a domistique. Riis you of all people should know better. I will say it again, Riis is upset with the Schlecks leaving, and he is exacting a little vengeance. Good show, A-H. Well played, you screwed Frank in the process.
OH yeah some dude won the stage and some guy got the jersey. Just kidding. Imanol Erviti of (Case D Parn- Bob Roll pronunciation) won the stage after an amazing attack on the descent. Wicked crazy golfcart path wide descent. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) took and intermediate sprint to gain a 2 second bonus. He was tied with the leader Anton, so in the end he took the jersey in his home town area.
I can't agree that Riis should have different rules for the leaders than he has for the dometiques. It's one thing to ask the domestiques to ride their guts out for someone else to receive glory (and big contracts) it is another for that guy to then go back to the hotel and have to watch a "leader" drink a beer and be given a pass. I am not saying I agree with the rule or Riis's actions, just that the rules should apply equally to all riders on the team.
ReplyDeleteIm going to agree to dissagree. You have a very valid point, and it should work that way. In a Communist society it works, but real world it looks good on paper. We always change/bend/break rules for the priviliged, whether it is for money, good looks, or athletic prowess. I'm not saying it is right, but it just happens. In cycling your leader has 7 other guys working for him, he is also the first to get the massage, etc... etc...
ReplyDeleteBy bending the rules for your star or for someone who works their @s$ off, it denotes a class system. So as a domistique if you don't like it, work harder and earn the ability to bend the rules. So, should you bust a rider who takes a sip of the champagne on the podium?
Riis booting Stuy and Andy was out of spite, and he is hiding behind his so called rules.