After yesterday’s controversial incident, where Alberto Contador (Astana) continued with an attack after yellow jersey Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) dropped his chain, the riders have made peace with one another. Last night Contador posted a video to Youtube apologising for what he acknowledged as a mistake, and while Schleck has not actually seen the video the two riders cleared the air during today’s stage.
“I haven’t seen the footage of Alberto’s apology,” said Schleck at the stage finish in Pau, “but he came to me today and personally apologised and I appreciate that a lot. He knows that he did a mistake yesterday; he shouldn’t have done that, he knows it and, for me, that’s enough now.”
Schleck also appealed to members of the crowd, both at the side of the road and at the post-stage podium ceremony, to stop booing and jeering the current yellow jersey wearer.
“This case is closed and people should stop with it and move on,” he said. “Nobody deserves to be chastised endlessly.”
Contador was also keen to emphasise the pair’s friendship, which he hoped would not be affected by the incident. “Last night I posted a video because this situation does not please to me,” he said. “Today I talked with Andy because I wanted to make things clear. We have always had good relations and I do not want them to be damaged by what happened yesterday.
“We have explained ourselves and I think our relationship can become as good as it was before.”
Both riders reiterated their reconciliation on their respective Twitter feeds.
“@andy_schleck and me have been talking in the race about yesterday and our relationship will not change. We are good friends,” tweeted Contador.
“Nasty hard day in TDF @albertocontador apologize 2 me today really big from him!! we are good again!” concurred Schleck, adding: “End of story!”
With just that slim 8 seconds between the two friends, the race looks poised to be decided by Thursday’s stage to the Col du Tourmalet and Saturday’s 52km time trial. The scenario is just as Tour’s planners must have been dreaming of when they came up with the route last year.
While Schleck has been matching Contador in the mountains this year, the Spaniard has historically performed much better against the watch. While Contador is expected to be faster than Schleck on Saturday, he is taking nothing for granted, with the Luxembourg rider much improved in the discipline this year.
“Theoretically it is an advantage for me,” said Contador, “but I know he is also able to gain time against the clock, being the [time trial] champion of his country. But before we worry about the time trial there is still the stage on Thursday, which is very hard, and there he may be big differences, rather than when we’re racing against the clock.”
Schleck conceded 42 seconds to Contador in the 8.9km opening prologue in Rotterdam. The rain slick city streets made most riders take few risks on the course though, so it is impossible to make a comparison.
“It’s difficult to calculate how long it may be between us two in the time trial,” he added. “This will depend first on what strength we have left. And, when compared to last year, it will not mean the same route [as the time trial in Annecy last year, when he beat Schleck by 1’45” over 40.5km] for the one near Bordeaux is much flatter. I also think Andy has made significant progress in this area since last year.”
With both riders so closely matched this year, the next few stages will be required viewing.