Playing those mind games...

"So keep on playing those mind games together/Faith in the future,outta the now"...Sorry,but after watching today's stage of TdF (which was won by a great Riblon) me couldn't avoid thinking about this beautiful song by John Lennon. Mind games,that's what Andy Schleck decided to play today with his main adversary,Alberto Contador.Will Andy's plan (keep on putting pressure on Contador and then drop him) pay off in the end? I don't know, but I really do hope so.

This afternoon Andy showed to everyone that mind games have a very important part in his Tour de France project. Firstly,he totally let the direction of the race in the hands of Contador's team. Then he was seen while carrying water bottles for his teammates (I imagined a big 'Dedicated to Laurent Fignon' message on his face while he was doing that) and he stayed glued to Contador's wheel for the whole stage.In the end,when Alberto tried to attack, Andy immediately followed him in an apparently easy way.

On the other side of the barricade,Contador looked a bit pissed off by Andy's tactic.I mean,he's won 4 GTs in the last 3 years and,before of July 2010,the only one who had been able to create him big problems on the climbs during a GT had been Michael Rasmussen.And now,here comes this tall and skinny boy from Luxembourg and 'ruins' Alberto's reign by attacking him without fear,'stealing' him the yellow jersey and putting pressure on him.That must be stressful,I suppose.

Obviously Contador,as every champion,can stand pressure very well.That was evident last year,when he had to race in the same team as Lance Armstrong.But still,last year Armstrong wasn't one of Contador's true adversaries for the Tour's victory. This time,instead,things are different.Andy is a strong adversary and knows how to play mind games with Alberto (who,has looked pretty nervous lately).

As far as Alberto is concerned,however,we can't forget that he has a 52 kms TT on his side, doesn't need to attack Andy to be sure of his victory chances and has a great team around him.

Yes,the team.After Friday's stage I believed (or,better,hoped) that a fracture could find place inside Astana. But,in thinking so,I had underestimated the importance of Beppe Martinelli and,more important,the intelligence of Alexandr Vinokourov.You can say whatever you want about him,but I think that he's a very intelligent person.

Actually,as a good Italian journalist once said, "the main difference between Vinokourov and the other riders is that Vinokourov is totally crazy" (copyright by Gianni Mura).I totally agree with that.After all, you have to be crazy to do something like he did in 2007 Tour de France.But at the same time I believe that,in his craziness,Vinokourov is much more intelligent,cunnier and braver than many of his colleagues.

For example,after Friday he could have begun a guerrilla inside Astana.After all,he would have had the right to do so.Instead,on the following day he invented a great attack in the last kms and won a stage that,on paper,seemed to favour sprinters.After the stage,then,he hugged Contador for a long time.By doing so, Vino definitely showed that he hadn't any reason to be angry with Contador anymore and that everything was okay in team Astana,who right now is the strongest equipe of the race.For me,that was a bad mental blow.

Therefore,in this mind games match between Conta and Schleck,I think that things are in a perfect equilibrium for the moment. Contador looks nervous,yes,but his team is strong,the final TT suits him,he doesn't need to drop Andy on the climbs and he's already showed he can stand pressure.On the other hand,Andy is stressing Alberto,leaves all the hard work to Astana and,important thing,he's got nothing to lose.I mean,Andy's 25 and,so far this month,he's won a Tour stage and has been wearing the yellow jersey.Considering that he's younger than Contador,even if he doesn't win the GC this year,I think he'll be satisfied with his Tour. Contador,on the other hand,was the only favourite for this year Tour and so if he ended second in Paris he wouldn't be satisfied at all.Perhaps that's why he's looked so nervous lately.

However,as far as today's stage is concerned,I think it was important because it showed that,for Contador and Schleck,the main GC adversaries are Samu Sanchez and Denis Menchov. Especially the Russian is a great time trialist who knows how to handle pressure and who would do everything to win a Tour de France.Considering Sunday's TT,I think that Schleck should pay attention also to Denis in the next days.I was actually a bit worried when,at a certain point,both Schleck and Contador stopped and let Menchov free of gaining seconds on them.Denis eventually gained just 14",but I don't think that Schleck and Contador should give him such opportunities anymore.

After the stage,Andy said: "Today Alberto was fine.If he hadn't felt so good,I would have attacked.I was feeling good as well.I remained on his wheel.It was like a psycological war between us.On Port de Pailhéres (ndr; and not 'de paillettes' as I said for the whole afternoon...) his team worked a lot and he was at my side together with Vinokourov.They wanted me to do something.His team wanted me to think he wasn't fine.But in the past I already made the mistake of riding in front of him: every time he would attack and leave me behind.But I've learned from my mistakes.Today wasn't a bad day.Tomorrow there will be another stage with a different climb.We'll see what will happen,but today this was the right thing to do" (source: http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/cyclisme/andy-schleck-une-guerre-psychologique-entre-nous-18-07-2010-1005265.php ;hopefully my translation is correct). To another website Andy also told that today he could allow himself the luxury of losing seconds from Sanchez and Menchov and said he's sure that "tomorrow's stage will be different".

As far as the other side of the barricade is concerned,Contador said: "Today's last climb wasn't too hard,Domaines is a predictable and short climb on which you can't make a lot of differences.Samuel Sanchez gained some seconds,and that's worring,but it wasn't an important advantage".

As far as other GC riders,Basso said "I can't get a podium spot anymore",while Wiggins admitted that "he hasn't got it".

So,this was today's stage: Menchov and Samu gaining a few seconds,Astana (and Vino) working for Alberto,Schleck and Contador playing mind games and controlling each other.It wasn't the most exciting stage ever,but it gave some good signals. Trying to make a little resume,today's stage firstly said that Schleck's trying to put pressure on Contador.Secondly,it showed Contador's team is stronger than Saxo Bank.Last but not least,it declared that Menchov is flying and that he'll be a bad rival for Andy and Contador.

Hoping that tomorrow's stage will be more exciting and that,together with playing mind games with Contador,Andy will also drop him,here I close this post.Dinner's almost ready and at the table I'll have to cope with an angry tifoso of Contador,an entusiasthic supporter of Denis Menchov and a disappointed Cunego's lover.Of course,between a dish of pasta and something else,we'll be playing mind games as well, just like we've been doing for the last 3 weeks.