You might think, from today’s breathless finish in Mûr-de-Bretagne, that Alberto Contador is back. In fact, to these eyes he still looked less than convincing — that’s in relative terms. Contador’s acceleration as the front of the peloton entered the final kilometre, was powerful enough to create panic, but not enough to take him clear of eventual stage winner, Cadel Evans.
The Australian — stung a few years ago by this correspondent’s suggestion that he might lack the steel to ever be more than a nearly-man — is a far more convincing contender in this Tour. His BMC team is committed to supporting him, his form appears excellent, he seems to be constantly near the front of the race and he has now acquired the guile and expertise to survive the Tour.
Evans doesn’t seem to be frail any more. In fairness to him, despite a collapse in the Giro d’Italia many years ago and a near-miss in the Tour in 2008, he is now one of the most consistent riders in the peloton. Can he edge closer to success this year?
Contador, meanwhile, will sleep better tonight. At least he reminded the peloton not to dismiss him. But the Mûr-de-Bretagne is not Plateau de Beille, the mighty Galibier nor is it Alpe d’Huez. The mere fact that Thor Hushovd, the bulky Norwegian sprinter, rode up the climb almost on his wheel, reveals that, as a testimony to the Spaniard’s real form, this finish was a false witness.