stage 17

Superhuman feats of strength

 

How about those sprinters?  Haven't heard much from them lately, stage 18 they will be back in the spotlight.  The race for Green is so close.  The last 20k of stage 18 is going to be wicked fast with the "fast men" going for the line.  We saw that Cavo did it without Renshaw, but in a stage like 18 will he really be able to pull it off?  Smart money is on Cavendish.

 

I'm stalling, I don't want to talk about stage 17.  Yes, it was a good stage, but not exactly the outcome I wanted to see.  Andy is still 8 sec down to "attacking Al".  We did see some excellent efforts by other members of the peloton, and some not so stellar moments.

 

Radio Shack, seriously guys the team competition is great and you are crushing, but what the blank are you doing.  Lance -throw in the towel dude, stop wasting Janez talent dragging you all over France.  And for all things holy, Do some work for your teammates...Clearly they are riding better than you.  I know, I know, you have had some bad luck (karma), but you of all people should pay back your teammates for all the work they have done for you.  Hello, do you need a text message, a tweet, an email ...Horner is en fuego, you also have Klodi flying.  Levi, sorry man you looked great, but you can't hang.  You said it yourself "they are too fast".  Not throwing stones--ok, I am.  Who can hang with Andy and Al?  I'm not a big fan of Vino, but transfer Al off of Astana and now we have a three man bid for yellow.  Throw in a healthy Frank, now you are talking.

 

Saxo.  Did Jens give a pep-talk before stage 17?  Did every Saxo rider channel their inner-Jens?   Chris, Jakob, Fabian, Stuy tore themselves up.  Fabian rode so hard he pulled off to the side of the road.  Who does that?  If anyone ever, ever asks "how is cycling a team sport?" show them Saxo from stage 17 2010.  Riding every ounce of your soul into the pedals and turning it into watts for your team leader.  How is it not?  Soak it in, Saxo is disbanding at the end of the season.  Brothers Schleck are bolting, Riis is without a sponsor, I'm sure every GM in cycling has Fabian on speed dial.  Riis will get another sponsor, Andy and Frank will go their way, but Saxo as we know it and see it today will be no more.  I need a tissue.

 

Chapeau! Ryder.  Chapeau! Horner.

Ryder has been consistent and persistent and just plain ol' "hardman riding", and has gotten himself into 8th GC.  Horner has been all over the map.  He has finished well despite the fact that he has had to play nursemaid to Lance and shepard to Levi.  Man has just been punching above his weight all season.  How about BMC in their first Tour?  Cadel had a "hugely bad" bad day,  but at least he has had a better attitude than in past Tours.  He has an awesome team supporting him.  Chapeau! BMC.

 

Dear VS, 

George may be sitting 1:45 down in 60th place, but we love him.  He is the National Champ of the USA, how about just an interview, some airtime?  He embodies cycling, show the man some respect, he has not retired yet.  Don't treat him like he has.  He is respected by the peloton and fans alike.  Put him on the TV.

 

Chain-gate

Al has to beat Andy by more than 39 seconds.  No debate.  No more than 39 seconds and the yellow is stained.