Weak Focus

I’m beginning to wonder whether Landis is perhaps looking to just hold this thing together in the mountains and win this race in the time trial. Obviously he’s not shy about putting the pressure on if he thinks he can make time, but I think Phonak is a bit worried about how they’re going to fare and they’re perhaps worried about Landis having to put in a big effort to break the legs of the other contenders without having a team to support him if he has a bad day. As has been said before, Landis has yet to show himself as a patron; not dominating the race but instead playing it cautious. Obviously he’s not shy about taking time where he can get it but perhaps he’s not planning on making any big attack against the other men and is instead content to keep the margins where they are until the time trial, where he feels comfortable in reeling back Perreiro.

Having a team of spanish climbers running the front of the race insures that the pace is kept up in the mountains. Floyd doesn’t want to have to keep the pressure on, and I don’t think Phonak feels they’re up to the task of doing so. Landis has been comfortable enough in the mountains so far, but having to do too much of the work without a strong team around you is asking a lot. Having someone else do that for you means he can just wait and watch. It’s up to the rest of the big contenders to make a move at this point, since If we went into the time trial today Landis would look to be the likely winner. It’d be a big departure from the way the race has been run in recent history and maybe I’m thinking too far ahead of myself. Still though, it’s the type of tactic that seems to fit with Landis’ low key personality, so maybe it’s not so far fetched after all.