I haven't been blogging as much as I would like for this year's Vuelta. Lots of reasons, mainly as I've been a bit ill and very tired, so I have been catching up with TiVo!
It's funny though, as I was going to blog Tuesday about Rodriguez being Mr. Cool Calm and Collected, almost James Bond like, unable to put a foot wrong and withstand any attacks that came his way. If I had have written that post, I would have been eating humble pie right now.
Contador is The Great. 'El Pistolero'. He armed himself, loaded, aimed and fired. And the bullet was spot on. Game over. .... Almost.
Contador wore down his opponents with sheer determination, multiple attacks on every climb over the past few weeks in the end wore them down. Christopher Froome was the first casualty, perhaps a lot earlier than expected. Valverde was next to go, although is certainly far from down and out. And it looked like Rodriguez was holding up the best to Contador's barrage, until now.
Stage 17 saw team Saxo-Bank tactically outmaneuver Rodriguez and allow Contador to make a decisive attack that would leave Rodriguez exposed, it was clear that the past couple of weeks had finally, albeit unfortunately taken their toll.
Contador ended up crossing the line, taking the stage with an outpouring of emotion, no doubt a combination of frustration and relief after the playing out of recent events.
Love him or hate him, Contador had his day. And it will be almost impossible for anyone to dislodge the Spaniard of the red jersey.
Do you feel a little for Rodriguez? What did you think of Contador and Saxo-Bank's tactics?
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