TDF Stage 1

OMG

That stands for One More for Gilbert, I don't know what you were thinking??  What an awesome stage, classic first day of le Tour, we had the break go right at the start, Omega went to work to keep the leash short and then the catch.  Did I miss anything?  Oh, yeah Crashes, it is the first week of le Tour so the riders will take a few days to work out the nerves.

What's up with the new Sprint format?  How cool was it to have an all out team train intermediate sprint?  I say awesome job whoever came up with that, can't wait to see more, you know this is going to open up the Green Jersey competition and make it so much better than it already is.  Yeah, I'm a fan of the jersey competitions.  Tyler and his Garm-elo mates tore it up.  Keep up that kind of riding and this could be interesting.  Cavo looked like he was put out like yesterday's garbage.  After that poor showing look for HTC to turn it up to 11 or switch it over to Goss.

I have no sympathy for Contador and am glad that he lost time.  I have taken the stance that he should not be riding in le Tour because of his "implications".  Rasmussen was kicked out because of not knowing his geography, and several riders were not allowed to race two years ago because of knowing or having dealings-with a certain Dr.  So why do we allow someone to race even though there has been a positive test?  Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?  $Money$.  That's why.  [Pardon my French]  So Suck it Contador I hope you lose so much time you go backwards in history and take up golf.

Wow, after the big crash the selection was made and time was put into the gap.  Those teams who had good positioning went full gas.  BMC was paid dividends by having Cadel up front as was Omega, Leopard, and Radio Shack.  Sorry Saxo! Ha!  Once I saw Fabian attack I knew that it was over, turn off the TV fire up the internet.  Hold the phone, Gilbert followed and then dropped Spartacus.  There was no answer from the field until Cadel was able to break free from being boxed in, and he put in an attack that might have gone if he had been freed up earlier.  Gilbert has the magic when it comes to up-hill sprint finishes winning 12 of the last sixteen races he has entered.  Not a bad stat to carry around.  I must say, completely biased opinion, that seeing the Belgian tri-color come across first was beautiful.  Not a bad way to celebrate winning the national camps -winning your first race in your country's colors.

Of Note:
You might have seen the crash where the riders were pointing out some road furniture and then the Omega rider hits the speed bump and ends up on the tarmac.  That was Jurgen Van De Walle.  He gets up off the ground, patched up and then goes back to the front of the peloton,  and then puts in work and works and works.  How long was Jurgen on the front?  Really?  Impressive.  I have a new favorite super domistique.  Jurgen gets my Jens trophy for the day.