The whole point is to be the race leader at the end, not now

The race will be won and lost in the Pyrenees and the Alps. But having the yellow jersey bringw with it two burdens.

First, your team is 'expected' to do the chasing, control the pack, keep breakaways under control etc. That is wearing, when you want to be saving energy. Obviously you can refuse to, but it's a game of brinkmanship, and you start off in a weaker position than the other teams.

Second, there are actually big burdens on the yellow jersey wearer every evening. The Tour is an endurance event, which is about recovery as much as anything - who can get least tired. Most riders dive back to their team buses after each stage for massage, ice baths, food, sleep etc. But the yellow jersey can't. He has to spend the next few hours after each stage hanging around to go on the podium, then doing media interviews, drugs tests etc. May seem irrelevant, but it builds up.

The situation before yesterday was perfect for him - one person ahead of him, who had to do all that stuff, but had no chance of overall victory, while he had a bit of a lead over his rivals for the overall win.

Now he still has that little biffer - which will be useful - but he has all the burden of the yellow jersey too. We'll see.

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, Jul 10, 10:39:18