Sun 19 May 2013 | 
Matthew Keenan
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Enlarge textAfter what can only be described as a phony war, the Alps mark the beginning of real hostilities, writes Matthew Keenan.
There are stll many questions to be answered in the Tour de France (AAP)
- 47 Comments | Join the discussion
After two weeks of trying to work out who has the best legs and is most
likely to wear yellow into Paris, some real decisions are about to be
made as the race finally reaches the Alps.
The true nature of the relationship between Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador will be revealed under the pressure of the mountains and the inevitable attacks from their rivals.
Contador
looks the strongest. But no one really knows how good Armstrong is. The
American is yet to be fully put to the test in his return Tour de France.
Cadel Evans is more the three minutes behind and has only one option. He must attack.
As Bernard Hinault, the five-time winner of the race, said, “there isn’t thirty-six solutions, they must attack.”
Andy Schleck, although only one minute and forty-nine seconds down, is in exactly the same position as Evans.
Schleck
needs to take just as much time as Evans in the mountains, if not more,
because based on past performances, he’s likely to lose more than a
minute in the final time trial.
So like Evans he needs to take three minutes, or more, in the mountains.
The defending champion, Carlso Sastre, is in the same boat as Schleck but coming from two minutes and fifty-two seconds down.
The wildcard here is Bradley Wiggins.
The Brit is yet to be truly tested in the mountains by the general classification contenders.
If Wiggins can stay with the more fancied favourites there, he may provide one of the biggest surprises in Tour de France history.
Back-to-back
gold medals in the individual pursuit at the Olympics and third in the
opening time trial indicate he could take time in the final test
against the clock.
In addition to his climbing, the other
question needing to be answered is his ability to time trial after
almost three weeks of racing.
Knowing the struggles he had as
a child after his Australian father left him and his mother to fend for
themselves when Wiggins was only two years-old - and how hard he has
worked since the Beijing Games - a podium finish would be well
deserved.
These are just a few of the contenders within striking distance, others like Christian Vande Velde, Kim Kirchen, Tony Martin and Roman Kreuzinger are also likely to feature.
As Armstrong himself has said the race may be 50 per cent over but is less than 25 per cent decided. It all starts now.
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Comments (47)
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24 Jul 2009 12:05 AEST
From: Melbourne
Wild - The Numbers do the Talking
Wild - Look at the agrees and disagrees with what your saying compared to Peddlers comments. You calm down a bit and make a sensible comment to which Peddler responds accurately with an obvious grammer error (lets be honest he does need to proof read himself) but then you go out on another rediculous rant. Would you protet your mates if someone was having a go about them?? Maybe you are a friend of Robbie McEwan's? I have heard through some cyclist friends of mine in france that he was asked to do comments for SBS but he wanted some rediculous fee..... its a rumour and I love Robbie he is a Champion both on and off the bike, but hearing how he rolls when it comes to the coin that rumour could be true .......
23 Jul 2009 16:52 AEST
From: melbourne
peddler not to be trusted
peddler i knew you did matt personally!! i just knew it! your bias makes your comment really uncool
23 Jul 2009 16:38 AEST
From: StKilda
Wild
Hi Wild, Never said that I didnt want a current pro/ex-pro there I just think that we have one of the best Commentary teams going about and saying what u said didnt take into consideration the ex-pros that are there (Dave Mac - Phil Anderson). There's another good duo that includes Sean Kelly going about but as far as a whole team goes we have it all really. To make your initial comment so much worse was that I and obviously most people who come online agree that Matty Keenan is by far the best Commentator going around. I do Matt personally but I dont stroke him mate his wife wouldn't like that. Matt gets commentary jobs from ASO, the UCI etc all over the world including the big racer that we dont get to see or hear about back here in AUS. Your comment was just really un-cool.
23 Jul 2009 14:08 AEST
From: melbourne
wild on
hi guys, i've settled down a bit. but what i don't understand is why none of you want a rider who can give special comments. we do hear racing tactics and such from the commentators but we don't have the gift of current or just retired pro rider who can give us some great insights. Considering this tour has been pretty boring, insights that a specialist commentator could give us would spice up the coverage. Do we all agree??
22 Jul 2009 22:05 AEST
From: melbourne
Matt Keenan for president
sorry guys you are all correct. Matt Keenan is the best thing since slice bread and we all should bow down to him. He is the king of all commentators. yes. go matt keenaan. god of cycling.
22 Jul 2009 20:16 AEST
From: Perth
WIld is not on Performance enhancing Drugs he's on brain effecting one
Wild Seriously!!!! What are you on? We are trying to clean up the sport and you come on here after obviously taking some sort of drug that has clearly effected the workings of your brain.
22 Jul 2009 19:56 AEST
From: Melbourne
Wild
Wild, Peddler has got you sorted. Get a grip Mate, and read his comment again it makes sense where are yours is utter dribble. Keenan is accurate, has outstanding knowledge and I challenge you to watch the tour with the sound off and recognise every rider and know there background and the races they have won etc etc like Matty does. Your a joke mate or as Peddler would say a Tool.
22 Jul 2009 19:37 AEST
From: south melbourne
dont understand
wild of melbourne i dont understand what more you can want from a commentator keenan gets the riders correct every time , he can read a race and the other night when all the riders had there rain capes on he seemed to be the only guy that new what rider was who . so why not just support one of our own instead of just hiding behind a key board and whats the term cyber bullying . i would love to sit down and have a coffee with you and find out your real motivation behind all of this , its probably you wish you had keenans job just like i do cheers greg. my real name not some aka
22 Jul 2009 18:17 AEST
From: Brisbane
Better coverage for Stage 16
Credit to SBS for a more "streamlined" stage last night. Not long after starting they briefly highlighted the start of the race and then moved into live pictures. SBS, I hope you can continue with a similar format for the remainder of the stages.
22 Jul 2009 10:12 AEST
From: melbourne
peddler is a flog
mate your pulling me up on my spelling? Look at yours - "Hey Wild from Melbourne Firstly - Robbie Mc Who?? If you are gonna start Dissing Matty "EnCYCLINGpedia" "The next voice of Cycling" Keenan at least get the spelling of one of Aussies most famous sprinters names write". Mate you didn't get it 'right', And you suggested Rupert Guinness?? Please what a shocking option. Mate Robbie is still a pro rider and knows these guys and is still involved. He would contribute far more than any one else you said. You are an absolute goose mate. Your obviously a friend of Matty as it sounds like you like to give him a stroke. If he is going to take over Phil, then i will watch the tour without sound.
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About this Blog
Matthew is a regular SBS commentator at the Tour de France. Prior to heading into the commentary box Matthew spent two seasons racing in Europe and rides as often as possible to remind his legs of that feeling of grovelling up a climb.
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