Brother Steve writes, “How weak was that Contador attack when Andy’s chain came off yesterday?”

He refers, of course, to Alberto Contador (and Sammy Sanchez and Denis Menchov, among others) attacking Tour de France yellow jersey holder Andy Schleck after the maillot jaune suffered a thrown chain while himself launching what looked to be a successful attack as the favorites neared the top of the Port de Balès.

That’s the way the ball bounces, right?  Well, no.  In cycling, there’s been an ages-old unwritten rule that you do not attack the yellow jersey on a crash or a mechanical.  Everyone riding is well aware of this, even if the many clueless American commentators ridiculing Schleck and cycling in general obviously are not.  Indeed, our own Lance Armstrong benefited from this gentleman’s agreement  some years ago when he was thrown to the ground by an errant musette bag handle that caught his handlebars when he himself was on the attack in the mountains.  (However, it did take another American, Tyler Hamilton, to remind the rest of the leaders on that occasion that waiting for Lance was the genteel thing to do.)

So yes, Contador is a no-class douchebag.

What’s sadder still is how readily many of those intimately involved in cycling for years and years let this bit of gentility go.  Johan Bruyneel… Phil Liggett… Robbie Ventura…  All disavowed the need for, and validity of, the longstanding tradition.

This is a real shame.  Particularly as the sport continues to struggle with its cheaters and liars, choosing to toss aside this bit of gentility now seems really poor timing.  We’re left with yet another message that winning is the only thing, and should be pursued at any cost.

On the other hand, given that we’ve had yellow jersey wearers who we now know were cheating, perhaps the respect for the maillot jaune as an institution was already abandoned long ago.

I like to think not, given the boos, jeers and whistles Contador endured when he stepped up to get his ill-gotten yellow jersey.  God bless the true fans!