TdF Stage 9

Cover the kid's eyes, we have gore and partial nudity

First off I have to say that whenever you mix cars and bikes in any situation it is never a good thing.  Next, what and the heck was that Idiot (best French accent I can muster) doing?  Cars Kill.  Yes, we all see these Pros on their machines and we think that they are gods, but they most assuredly are mortal.  Or, maybe they are immortal except for when it comes to cars.  Seriously save the Champagne for the last stage, FranceTV.  Drinking and driving are bad.  I wanted to see Voeckler win just as much as the next FrenchTV Spanish hating homi-auto-cidal person, but taking out Flecha (with a car) is no way to help your man win a race.  Above all else it is not very sporting.

How sickening was it to watch Flecha bounce of the front quarter-panel and then helplessly slide just out of the way of the 1200lb death machine?  Better yet, let's toss a guy into the ditch, no how about we put a fence in there to break his fall?  Hoogerland stuck in the fence like a tuna in a net just waiting to be pulled aboard, was nausea at it's best.  I can't believe that Johnny didn't lose an appendage in that fall, I'm talking about my favorite appendage.  He did lose his bibs, blood and maybe some dignity. 

At least they stayed in the race, we will see if they start on Tuesday.  Some were a little less unfortunate.  Vino took a nasty (horribly nasty) flip and fall over a guardrail into some trees where he broke his pelvis.  Ouch.  Hate him or not, you still have to feel bad for the guy.  Van Den Broeck crashed out.  He was Omega's #1 and was only 0:0:39 down.  Omega also lost Frederik Willems, who is a huge workhorse for the Belgian team.  One who I am sorely going to miss is Dave Z.  Zabriskie was involved in the big pile-up and broke his wrist.  Dave has been killing it on the front and animating this race.  He and Danny Pate were like the American wrecking crew, pulling in breakaways almost at will.  You know Danny is going to miss him.  After Zabriskie's crash he tweeted "So be it..." I'm not sure what that means, well to be honest I don't know what most of what Dave says, means.  Love ya' Dave hope to see you in CO.

So after FrenchTV took out Flecha and Hoogerland that left Voeckler, Sanchez, and Casar to duke it out.  Sanchez played the Frenchmen and had the freshest legs he took Voeckler for the win.  I'm going to have to deduct coolness points from Sanchez for his "sucking the thumb" victory.  Buy a full length mirror and practice your V's on a trainer, or better yet just phone a friend.  A good buddy will tell you when you look a fool.  Gilbert once again attacked the group on the final pitch up and drilled it.  Nice.

Anyone see Contador fall on the left side of the road?  Did he wheel rub?  Was he "helped" into the ditch by another rider?  Better yet, did you see his teammate turn around and then just keep on going as if nothing happened?  What about no one pacing him back into the peloton?  Is his team as sick of him as I am?