Greig Leach

To understand why Astana did not put in a hard chase to catch Tony Martin (OPQS) is easy, he started the day 19 minutes behind their Yellow Jersey clad team leader, Vincenzo Nibali. Why they let Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Belisol) needs a better understanding of the limits of a team over a very grueling three week race. Nibali has held the Jersey since Stage 2 and with that his team has had to chase the moves, ride tempo on the front of the peloton and protect their race leader. The job means that they are expending a great deal of energy, energy that they will need at the end of the Tour as well. By letting the Jersey move to a rider that they believe will not be a threat in the high mountains. They seem to believe that Gallopin fits the bill, now it will be Lotto-Belisol that will be riding on the front kilometer in and kilometer out while Astana can save some energy, recover and be ready for Nibali to retake the Maillot Jaune closer to Paris.