I said yesterday that I thought they'd wasted energy by playing the wrong tactics, not sending anyone up the road and making Phonak or others chase since they weren't lending a hand.

And today, they tried to explode the race on the Portillon, only to leave Klöden isolated on the final climb, and without ever putting any of the serious contenders into trouble. Did they pay (Kessler, Rogers, Sinkewitz) for sitting on the front yesterday, without accomplishing anything, and losing the jersey? Certainly their bid for regaining the yellow took a serious blow today. Again, seems like if they'd played their cards differently, even while not protecting Gonchar, but the team's jersey interests, then maybe one of their formerly high up riders would have the jersey yesterday and today.

And why on the Portillon? Yes, it was a steeper climb, but there were still like 20+ riders in the valley leading into Val Daron.