Schleck lost the yellow jersey in the most frustrating way possible

There's a long-standing gentlemen's agreement not to attack the yellow jersey when he goes off the back to get food or take a leak. Would it be ideal if bike races were never impacted by anything except tactical acumen and power output? Maybe, but that's not reality and it never has been. If that's what you want, make Shleck and Contador play chess while riding ergometers in a physiology lab!

SHOOT: Yes I'm not sure you can blame Contador but I think this incident shows who supports who. I'm for Schleck and expect he will come out with guns blazing tomorrow. Let's face it, there's nothing in it between these two and the either can make a decisive break either today or on Thursday - but more than likely on the Tourmalet today. Should be a very exciting day.

clipped from www3.bicycling.co.za When Schleck had his mechanical problem, he was initiating an attack. He was on the offensive, and the problem was isolated to him only. It didn't involve spectators, other riders, motorbikes, or anyone else. Contador was already at speed and coming after Schleck when the yellow jersey dropped his chain. What are we going to do, stall the bike race every time someone in contention for a high overall placing or one of the jersey competitions misses a shift? Would it be ideal if bike races were never impacted by anything except tactical acumen and power output? Maybe, but that's not reality and it never has been. If that's what you want, make Shleck and Contador play chess while riding ergometers in a physiology lab! The problem here is that there are precedents. Lance Armstrong waited for Jan Ullrich when the German crashed on a descent A few years later, Ullrich and the front group appeared to wait for Armstrong after he hooked his bars on a fan's musette bag on the climb to Luz Ardiden.