Tour de France 2011. Schlecks place another banderillo on Contador.

Imagine that nothing has changed from the assumptions at the beginning of the Tour. Then Contador is the man to beat. Seeing what I have seen in days past, that's almost done already. Today Contador got another little banderillo losing just two seconds on Andy Schleck, whom he could not follow in the final meters.

Which brings me to talk about some serious matters, watching the latest stage from the comfort of my armchair. It is indeed a difference from what you see from the discomfort of your bike's saddle. But what I see might be more accurate.

I see Contador straining. He is out in my opinion. I see an emerging champion, Thomas Voeckler, who grew with the jersey. He is a more serious contender now than Contador. He seems to gradually grow into his best form ever.

I see Cadel Evans hanging on there, almost under the radar. And while suffering in the mountains, he is looking forward to arrive at Alpe d'Huez, the last climb, still under the radar, still with the pack. The following day could be his day: 42.5 km individual time trial.

That is pretty much the situation: Contador should attack, but can't. He is Can'tador. But there are two unexpected new guys. The Schlecks have to deal with them now.

Here is my second piece of advice to Andy Schleck: an attack in the mountains should be like any good attack, a surprise, sudden and brutal, delivered with maximum force and sustained. Believe a military guy. Those are the principles and rules of military art. They apply to the Tour de France. There is great suffering among all of your opponents. Seeing a guy sprinting away, suddenly and who seems to keep going, delivers a great psychological blow and sows despair, empties shoulders of all force and paralyzes legs.

You showed today that you can go into your reserves and break away, when you decide to do it and commit to it. However, you could have done it earlier, but you telephone your plan. By now, even I have noticed that you look around, check on your left, check on your right, where is Frank, where is Contador, and then you try to go, but only for 10 seconds. It looks like a countdown on Cape Kennedy: 5 look around, 4 look left, 3 look right, 2 where's Frank, 1 here's Contador - Lift-Off! Everyone knows these ticks by now.

There is good news with this. Keep doing this until the day you really want to strike fast and furiously. Then you don't do your ticks. It will be utter surprise.