Has Tour changed for ever with "Chaingate" incident?

I am not sure that the non-cycling public are getting the best impression of our sport from this years Tour de France.

We saw the headbutting incident involving Mark Renshaw (the first two weren't butts, he was merely fending off Julian Dean who was crossing into his line) and now the whole 'should he shouldn't he' Contador incident.

Within the office I have been trying to tell people that this piece of cycling lore is based on the same principle as kicking the ball out in football when a player is 'injured'.

It is the nearest analogy I can find. Your opponent is not able to function at full capacity through an external force( mechanical in cycling, injury in football) and therefore the sporting thing to do is take no advantage.

If you look at the incident in isloation yesterday it does look dark for Alberto. But having said that the whole race was made to wait for both Schlecks back in Spa as a result fo them falling off.

There are only so many times you can show sportsmanship to the same person before it becomes tiresome.

If Andy had punctured would they have waited? 

Could Contador not have been told in his earpiece to slow down and wait for Andy? 

After the track stand incident of the previous day was Contador getting his frustration out? 

Should Andy's ire not be directed more at Sammy Sanchez and Denis Menchov who did more of the pulling (from what I saw)?

One thing is for certain it is making the Tour more media friendly for non-cyclists but I am not sure that is a good thing...