-the Bad and the Ugly

Which is the greater evil committed against cycling:  Ricco's unabashed doping or Contador getting cleared of all wrongdoing?  What Ricco did is downright stupid, the choice he made -he is now having to deal with the physical consequences.  There is finally word coming out that he is in serious condition and has infections in his heart and lungs.  I wish him best of luck and a speedy recovery, don't forget that he is human and for the most part we are just big dumb animals.  Some more than others. -But, he is a person who has family and people who care about him.  Wishing him harm is stooping to a level well below the one he currently resides.

Col du Tourmalet
Photo Credit: ???

Cycling is a sport I love, and unfortunately Doping is a part of cycling.  Yes, when you have someone like Ricco, Landis and tons of other blemishes on the face of cycling that is all the general public will see.  We as a society will always focus on the negative.  This is the most beautiful sport in the world, and every sport has it's good-bad-and-ugly.  News is made by scandal, the non-cycling public will never know of the momentous battles fought on Ventoux, Huez, or the Tourmalet.  This lifestyle/sport will always have Riccos, it is a fact that we cannot change.  Make rules and someone will try and break them.  There is no solution.  You can control doping, but it will never be stopped.  It is a Speed Limit -65mph is posted, and everyone drives 70mph.

I don't even know where to start with Contador?  Dude pops positive for doping -says it is tainted beef, gets slapped by the Spanish Cycling Federation for one year.  Contador presents his case and now it looks like the SCF is going to overturn their original suspension.  Everyone Wins?  Contador gets to race, the Spanish save face, and some people that we will never know make a great deal of money.  Contador is a cash cow (no pun intended) to his team, country, and sponsors; so by clearing him of doping charges he is vindicated and everyone can continue to cash the checks.  Now if he gets to race the TDF he will have the eyes of the whole world watching to see el pistolero carry the flag of redemption up the Alps.  That will sell some papers.

Not so fast -this makes cycling look worse than a two time looser like Ricco.  We expect Ricco to be bad.  Now the crown prince of cycling has a ? an * and a lot of speculation following him.  Is he?  Did he?  This is what will be in the non-cycling news from now until the truth is never known.  That's right, we will never know the truth, that is how "the ugly" of this sport works.  Crucify the sinners and forgive the saints and sweep everything else under the rug, because like everything in life the almighty dollar/euro has the last say.

-Ricco, I don't like what you did to our sport, and I don't think you knew what you were doing to yourself.  I hope you fully recover.  Get well soon.

-Contador, I am not a fan.  Now when I see you flying up 16% grades with super-human ability...I will wonder is that you or is it the drugs?  One question: Who won le Tour in 2010?

Bite the Hand

I thank my lucky stars that we have some sort of cycling coverage on TV.  I know it was not always like this and to get the latest info you had to have a VeloNews handy or call a phone number to get the latest pre-recorded race results.  So, yes we are privileged in the access that we have to races the world over.  Not to mention the world wide web.  Our savior for all things cycling.  So, here is my open letter to Versus.

Dear Versus,

I have some ideas that might help your cycling coverage.

1.  We are already watching your station, we don't need to know about the up coming PBR (pro bull riding) (I thought it was a tasty beverage) event in slow motion.  Spandex does not mix with chaps -well not in this crowd.  Your commercials alone are enough to get me to STOP watching

2.  I will most likely never drive a Cadillac or buy Michelob Ultra.  Please for the love of all things holy sell me something I can and will use.  If we are in front of the TV and watching cycling, you can reasonably assume that we are cyclists.  Beer commercials are good, and you need more of them.  I know, I know you are limited to commercials that the sponsors are buying.

3.  Paul and Phil, love 'em.  They need a third person in the booth to keep them on track.

4.  On the same lines as Paul and Phil.  They are given a quota of how many times they can mention Lance outside of the actual action.  If Lance is somewhere at the back of the peloton, we don't need a camera on him and 5 mins of commentary.  If he is at the front, bridging, attacking, etc... fell free to give him some love.  Seriously if you are in love with Lance, let him know move to Vermont and do the deed.

5.  I want a Brian Holm and Rolg Aldag show.  Mic these guys up and put 50 cameras on them.  If you haven't seen Chasing Legends you won't know what I am talking about.  These guys are awesome.

6.  Jens Voigt.  Give us Jens.  Lots and lots of Jens, mic him up and put a tracker on him so we know what he is doing at all times.

7.  How about introducing America to other cyclists other than Lance?  There are some legends out there, that many people have never heard of.  Throw us a freakin' bone.

8.  How about some coverage on the other jerseys in a Grand Tour?  Yes, we know the leaders jersey and the Sprint, but show the battles for the KOM and the Youth.

9.  Show the start of the race, interview some riders, show how the break formed.  I mean really show it, you have plenty of time, a five sec clip of two guys going off the front does not cut it.  Show feed zones, show the intermediate sprints, same thing here 5sec is not enough.  Show the peloton with the teams getting their riders in position to start the sprint.

10.  And by all means send me a bottle of wine so I can enjoy it with your cheese.

Thank you for your considerations, I am available for a position to help you with your production.  We will also need to get the rights to every ProTour race.  I have watched your programming, and it is not like you can't make the room for a little cycling.  Whacked Out Sports???? are you kidding me?  With me on board we can do much better.  Seriously MMA, PBR, NHL and Cycling on the same network?  How much are you drinking and smoking when programing?

Glenn Duh

Apres Tour

I regret the possibility that I am going to offend, but I feel I must do my duty, pull on the stripes of a referee and "call it like I see it".

The podium is a holy place for the athlete, it is an elevated step both literally and metaphorically. We raise up our champion for all to see.

le Tour is the most prestigious race in the whole cycling world, held in France the hotbed of fashion. The best they can come up with for the Stage winner podium girls is a black jumpsuit a la Grease? I try to be open minded about the ways of the world, but I don't get it. Fashion is art, and I think LBJ said, "I don't know art, but I know what I like." Sorry stage winner podium girls, not a fan.

Now here is where I am going to get into trouble. KOM. Was it a dare, was it too much wine the night before a deadline and it was raining outside? "Hey, I know whats we can do...let's make z dress out of an umbrella." --ridiculous French accent by John Cleese. So, what do you do if it rains? Pull your dress over your head? Probably wind up with a few new friends. "mind if I share your dress?" Ou, la la.

As for the other podium girls, I think they hit the mark. Well I do have to mention the Points Leader presenters. Nice white dress with a band of green, and then we have to add the sponsor, because the jersey is not enough. PMU green hands everywhere and we need to make sure that it is on the dress somewhere. I forgot who is the sponsor again?

I guess it could be worse, at least they have clothes on, they do have class and pageantry. I will give them that.

If it is offensive to you that I used the term girls, just replace with presenter. Problem solved.

Fin

Champs

Who does not want to win in Paris? City of lights. 7 lap circuit race with 60-70kph blistering speeds. When they hit the 180 they look so slow, I bet they are faster than a Cat IV sprint. The last stage, one of the hottest uncontested stage of the whole Tour. It is unwritten, that no one attacks. When they get into Paris and start the circuits, all bets are off.

Was it really a big deal that Radio Shack wore a kit that commemorates the 28mill people fighting cancer? If you look at it from a business/marketing standpoint, then yes it is a bad move. If you see it for what is was supposed to be, a point. A perspective of a horrible disease that has in one way or another touched almost everyone on this planet. I get it, fight your battles, lose some, try and win the war. Was Armstrong trying to get in one last FU? I'll give him the benefit, I'm a sucker, and poor judge of character. They were way better than their normal kits. I don't get the Military style badges? Anyone, little help here?

ASO/UCI checked Fabian's bike for a motor. They need to check HTC to see if they are homo sapien. ET? Want to drive the pace, get a notepad and watch some videos of HTC training-it on the front. Drill it for a K and then disappear, sometimes to re-appear to do it again. It is a beautiful thing. School is in session HTC is at the front. If you are in the back of the peloton, you are like "oh,____ here it goes again".

Oh yeah, Cavo made it five. Six last year, and four the year before. 15 in three years. Look it up. Stop the hate, resistance is futile. Cav won every sprint he was in. If he had not had the bad luck and bad days... I'm seeing Green. Cavo does not need a lead-out as long and the other sprinters lead him out. I have to say as of right now: Unbeatable

The show is over. What a fun, strange, painful, sorry, excellent, pitiful, super Tour.

stage 19

Al had 8sec on Andy. 39sec that were stolen with a drop of a chain. Andy is not a TT specialist, and he needed every second that he could going into stage 19. He did not have a cushion and had to have the TT of his life. He did. He threw down. It was not enough. Al put in a less that stellar TT (for him), but put Andy down 39 seconds over all.

End of the Tour, well at least for the Yellow. I would love to see Saxo attack on the last day. They have too much class for that. We could debate all day long about was it right to attack, what is proper etc...

Deni raked Sami over the coals, and handily took the third step on the podium. It really comes down to who is faster. ??? Does it?????

Al and Andy kill when it goes vertical, Cavo will take you to school if it ends in a sprint, and Spartacus will stop time. So how do you decide how a Grand Tour is won? I started following le Tour because of a fellow Texan. So I will beat that drum once again. Lance in his day, was the best all-around tour rider. He could climb like a crack monkey, and TT like he was on fire.

So who is the best?

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.

 

stage 16

Forget the yellow

What an awesome break. I had no idea what I wanted to happen. Did I want Barrado to stick it(heck yeah, man was crushin' it)? How about another for Casar (dude rocks)? Maybe Armstrong because of his bad luck (nah)? Horner? Why not Horner, the guy is a draft horse and just might be a little crazy(love the guy).

What half ounce of respect I have for Armstrong is drying up after his stage hunting episode. Are you so self centered that you are going to sacrifice one of the most deserving domistiques without a tour stage win just so you can save a little face. Only to fall flat on it and look even more like a fill in the blank. Horner is b'dass. What else can you say about the guy, he will obliterate himself for his team leader and like it. Dude is so far into the pain cave setting tempo and.... he has a smile on his face. He loves what he does and he does it without any self concern. Horner is sitting 14 GC to Armstrong's 25 and he is setting pace for Armstrong? What is wrong with this? Get your 25th GC self-righteous fill in the blank up to the front and set some pace for your man Horner and show some respect.

I was crushed when Barrado was caught at the red kite. The guy made headlines for the wheel swinging incident, but suicide breakaway artist is what we will remember after his solo effort. Edge of the couch, yelling at the TV "don't look back, keep going". Oh, heartbreak, all of that work to be swallowed up and spit out the back of the chase group. I say Thank you, Good Show to Barrado. Going "rogue" is awesome and you my friend deserve the red numbers on your back.

I am going to beat this dead horse as long as it continues to be deceased. Number Six. Make that 6 stage wins for the French, thanks to Fedrigo and his cagey sprint out of the eight man break. A break that stuck, Yes! Viva la France.

Jens Voigt. Just writing those two words carries the weight of 3.5 War and Peaces. I'm exhausted just typing that combination of letters together. (five hours later) What can you say about Jens? Anything you want, but be careful he might attack so hard that he travels back in time and destroys your family line. Jens is and always will be the MAN. When Jens fell in a crazy descent at last year's Tour he caused an earthquake in South America. Jens fell yesterday on the first descent at 70kph (roughly 43mph), his tire blew and he went down hard. There are "stories" that he finished the stage on a neutral support bike with toe clips (unconfirmed at this time). The legend that is Jens Voigt will one day eclipse the whole known universe.

"My ribs are hurting but hey, broken ribs are overrated anyway" -Jens

stage 15

Who needs a giant Renshaw head butt?

The French can put another notch in the belt, Thomas doing the Tri-color proud with a solo effort today. It's good to see a national champion win a race, even better a 2X national champ. "they are raising French babies and throwing soft cheeses"

I'm a little upset, I counted to ten like one hundred times, and I'm still very angry. Also, worried and sad. If you drop a chain in a crit or a road race I am going to attack, it's not a Grand Tour. There are unwritten rules, hello stage 2, that are not meant to be broken. Gentleman's rules are for fair play, kind of like guy code, you just don't break it. You will get your card pulled just for thinking about it.

Should Al have waited? Do you wait for a mechanical, a puncture? You MUST wait for a crash? Al claims that he did not see what had happened. ?????? Four letter words. He was right behind Andy and he "did not see what happened". He has a radio and I'm pretty sure the DS in the car was screaming at him to go go go! Dude, take a look, assess the situation, give it half a second to process and then decide if you have class or if you do not. If that is how you want to win a race, then more power to you. Yes, you won, but did you?

Lets get into Doc's time machine and set the dial to 2007, a day or two before Rasmussen gets the boot. Mike is killing, doing everything right and then some questions come up about his whereabouts. Where were you the night of.... blah blah Mexico blah blah Italy blah. 2+2 DOES NOT EQUAL 5. Your out. Al wins his first Tour de France, to some, to others he was gifted le Tour. He says that the 30 some odd seconds that he made up on Andy doesn't matter, "it will not win or lose the Tour". If you believe that, give me your address, I will send you a hammer and you can hit yourself in the head until I tell you to stop. 8 seconds is what LeMond had when he pulled on the yellow in Paris, and you think 30 seconds is not a big deal.

Booo Booo Booo to you Al. Give me a respectable champion. Not to beat the Lance drum: Lance waited for Ullrich when he went farming in a ditch. Could have put major time into him, did he need to, sure who does not like to have a little cushion? He waited because he has class. Say what you will about his off bike exploits, but the guy has on-bike class. Andy has every right to be pi$sed.

This just in: First of all: Tyler quit the Tour, after Renshaw was kicked out, because Garmin is out of excuses for why they cannot beat Cav. Oh yeah, Second: mountains are no fun for sprinters.

Stage 14

I'm a little behind on the blog, sorry. I helped put on a race, raced, and am fighting a head cold. I'm going to start with today's stage.

Todays stage should have been billed as fight night, the top card was Andy vs Al for the superlight weight, Sami vs Deni for the middle light weight. Al punched and punched with all his might, but Andy was content with just blocking and staying on the defence. In the end they went back to their corners and called it a draw. In the second bout for third place. Sami threw the frist punch which knocked the Russian to one knee, but he came up swinging and leveled Sami. The fleet of foot Spaniard did not stay down and ended their bout in a draw. Although they tied on the stage and Sami retained his podium spot, he and Deni gained a few seconds on Andy and Al. Because of their total lack of attention to anyone else, except for each other they gave up 14 seconds.

This is Le Tour de France, but for the first time in years have the French made an impact on this race. This is le Tour de French, they have won four stages, have the KOM jersey and have held the Yellow for two days. The latest stage win by Riblon was hard fought and hard won. Riblon joined the the escapees 25k into the 184.5k race, and outlasted them all the way to the end and was not caught. Deni and Sami were 54 seconds from pulling him in. Talk about being a close one, staying away for about 160k and almost getting caught with less than a min is crazy.

What's Vino on? Dude destroyed in the last few km's yesterday and then takes a death march pull for Al today. What's up with that. Superhuman strength???

I really want to talk about Lance, but then I am just like everyone else. Ah, what the heck. I have to admit: I love the Radio Shack commercials. "Don't make me get of this bike" --that one is great, they don't show it as much as the other ones. Alphonse is awesome, I want to party with that guy. "Get off my bike Alphonse".

stage 13

So what do you do when your teammate denies you a stage win?

So, how bad does Cav miss Renshaw "the Ram" as a leadout man? Well as far as I could tell... not that much. If it had not been for the solo redemption effort that Vino put down, Cavo would have another stage in the bag. Sans "the Ram". I'm sure Cavo misses him at the dinner table and on the bus, but he got the job done without a leadout today.

I love the mountain stages, but this race for the green jersey is white hot. Wish there were a few more "sprinter friendly" stages just for the fireworks that have been going off. Thor and Petacchi have been passing around that jersey, and Cavo has been clawing his way up into the third spot. Should make for a good show.

I am not a big fan of Vino, heck I'm not a fan at all. I will however be the first to say that what Al did to him yesterday was wrong, yes he was trying to gain time on Andy, but don't do it at the expense of your teammate. Do not deny the people who work for you, "theirs". These guys ride themselves into the ground for their leaders. They fetch food and water, they give up wheels, they pace you back into the group, they are there to do one job and one job only. Domistiques make le Tour go round. Leadout men, breakaway specialists, and of course the train (HTC) can pull in a break like no other.

Vino used that big ball of hate and turned it into a stage win, Which he deserved. It looked like Ballan and Cunego were going to have a go, but were easily pulled in. Thomas sprouted wings with hopes of bagging another stage for France but faded into a surging peloton.

Stage 12

Contador steals back his 10 seconds

I did not get to see this stage, so my opinion is limited to alleyway talk and drunken ramblings of "the people who know things".

Basically this stage was supposed to be a neutral stage with the break getting pulled in by opportunistic stage hunters. It turned into a hot one from the the start with everyone trying to take a dig. Won't name names but trust me anyone who can try a break did. Long story short the yellow was being challenged and Saxo had to work, and work and work. Vino gets out there in a break and is cooking with something. Andy and Al are surgically attached at the hip until Rodriguez decides it is time to make a go at it and drags Al with him and leaves Andy at the alter. Andy is dazed and confused and to make things worse he wore cement shoes and cannot hold onto Al and loses 10 seconds to Al.

All this is happening and Vino is still stage hunting, when his "teammate" says "not today com padre". Vino is not happy, Rodriguez takes the stage and Andy is hit with a -10 sec to Al. Vino finishes without a win and probably a little upset with his "teammate".

Stage 11

I'll get to that in a second, first things first.

Since we have first and second place locked down, and the battle for third is still the same, lets take a look at the "other" races going on. Petacchi took the green back from Thor, hope he washed it. Thor is starting to look lack luster, plus he doesn't have the support that the other teams are throwing at the front of the race. Get some horsepower put it on the front and then ride it like you stole it. The 'dots have been securely fastened to Pineau, although he only has a slight (2 points) lead over Charteau, the margin to third... So huge I will not even say how huge. This one could get interesting. For the White Andy has over four min on Gesink, gees wonder how this one is going to go down?

Thanks VS for all the stellar coverage. -sarcastic

13 is an unlucky number? Try telling that to HTC and Cavo. On the other hand, Renshaw might not like the number 13. 13 wins at le Tour surpassing all sprinters of the modern era. Love him, Hate him. He has enough wins for you to hate him, but you better respect.

All right, all right here it is...
The other Mark. Renshaw, Mark Renshaw licensed to pull Cavo to the line. I have not looked at the UCI rulebook, but head, shoulders, elbows, I thought were fair game as long as you had your hands on the bars? That being said was there a head butt? NO.. I count 3. Why? Well, if you know anything about cycling, Sprinting is a contact sport. (from the overhead) Dean had elbow extended and was encroaching in on Renshaw's line. Instead of using the elbow back on Dean, Renshaw used his head, literally. And the rest is even more messed up. Did Renshaw intentionally move into Tyler's line or inadvertently? I'm not clear on that one. Either way relegate him for the move on Tyler, but tossing him for a head butt? Hello, Robbie McEwen master of the head butt, was never tossed, relegated but not tossed. Bad form ASO, UCI.

What happens to Cavo without Renshaw? Can HTC step up and continue to deliver Cavo to the line. Bernie and Tony are going to have to step up their game.

On a more serious note, I feel that Renshaw being tossed needs to be debated. There is a comment link. How about using it?

Stage 10 or Rest day

No fireworks on Bastille Day for the French

After a long hard day in the saddle, on stage 9, even the big guns need a day.

Seriously, did anything happen today? I watched the stage, I've combed the Internet, I talked to the "people who know things" and I think there was a rest day today disguised as a stage.

Ok there was some climbs, but the sprinters almost made it, but no one wanted to work, to bring in the break. After yesterday's stage do you blame them. No, you do it, you have yellow, well we don't have a sprinter, so you do it. -That went on for like 100k? So the break went, the break stayed, and a Radio Shack guy from Portugal ruined Bastille day for the French. Sorry guys Sandy was a day early- said that yesterday.

So, nothing happened in the GC, and tomorrow is a sprint stage. Cavo? Tyler? Thor? Robbie? It's up for grabs. Saxo will hold down the break if anyone is dangerously close to Andy, and then the sprinters teams will take over, and catch the break. Done. Sorry to spoil it for you. Look for Chavanel to go stage hunting again, maybe we will see a new face up there?

So, I usually have something smart or dumb to say about "things", but I've got nothing for this. If anyone can enlighten me I'll buy you a pint and we can have a good laugh???

Sorry I did not have more to say, but did you see what I had to work with?

Stage 9

Bitter Sweet

Evans is going to be on the show Biggest Loser, of time that is. What did he do on the rest day? Yeah, he took a nasty spill on stage 8, but he still rode well and stayed with the bunch. I wanted Evans in there as a wild card, emphasis on the Wild, maybe even crazy. Well say crazy card and move on. BMC is the Bad News Bears of le Tour, and they would have made it interesting. Evans, love him, hate him, love to hate him, made for a good show. So I say Thank you.

ASO is officially changing the name of le Tour. It was unofficially change years ago to the Tour de Lance, but to get the younger audience they are going to change it the the ANDY & AL SHOW. If those two don't systematically destroy each other, no one will touch them. So the Race for Third is heating up?

My man Jens. What a total machine. The freak of nature that he is, gets into the break (old Jens from Credit Agricole days) comes back to Andy and Al and sets a pace that the motos had to shift gears. The guy rides himself so far in to the pain cave he had to stop and ask for directions, but could not understand Chinese. The last dig he put in to try and catch back on at the summit almost made him stop. Who does that? If this were a Hollywood made movie, there would be exploding legs, imploding lungs, and Jens would be riding around with a necklace of ears from riders that he destroyed.

Speaking of Biggest Loser. There was some shuffling of the GC, but even though guys moved up they still lost time. Yeah, I moved up three spots, but lost 2:10? I'm telling you that the race for Third is going to be a barn burner.

Who knew Van Den Broeck could climb? Who even knows who Van Den Broeck is? Look him up, that's your homework for today.

July 14, Bastille Day. Look for every Frenchman in the peloton to be gunning for a stage win. I have no predictions, Sandy Casar was a day early.

Stage 8

Holy Schleck!!!

I hate to add to the already vast ocean of Armstrong -vs- Contador attention, but I have to say that besides the number of casualties of this Tour, Armstrong has had the WORST LUCK. Could he have won? Don't know and will not get into it. Could he have beaten Contador? See previous statement. Too bad Levi is not just a little closer to the podium. 2:14 down, I don't know, it is do-able. Will Lance work as a Super-Super domistique? He has in Cali. Something to watch.

I think I might have written about a little know quantity called Cadel Evans, yes I have. Told you guys to watch him, look where he is now. I know, there is two thirds left. Evans is dangerous, dude should have a warning label on him. Step on his dog and he'll "rip you head off". How cool is it that the rainbow jersey is in yellow? Out of the recent World Champs, Evans is doing the position proud and giving the jersey the respect that it is owed. Brilliant. Psst...Big George rides for Cadel, speaking of George...where the H is he? Did he anger every cameraman out on the course? I have not seen him. It's like Where's Waldo with that guy. Everybody loves that guy, put a camera on him.

Old News Alert: The wheel attack after the stage 6. If you ever need to attack someone or defend yourself, use the David Miller bike throw. A Wheel, really?

Andy, Andy, Andy, where have you been all season? Your attacks have been anemic and easily brought in. Oh, wait. Did you see the last 2 ks on the Avoriaz? Andy blew me away when he went, and everyone else for that matter. Sami Sanchez bridged but was unable to sprint it out for the finish. Contador looked like he might go with Andy, but faded and let the others in his group take up the chase. Not a big fan of Contador, so I was yelling for Andy to bury el pistolero. If Cantador never wins another race, it will not be soon enough. I hate the "gun pointy finger" thing that he does. Can I get an amen?

You might not have noticed, but Evans did have a team mate with him on the final climb. BMC is probably the most underrated overlooked team that could win it all at the Tour. I wanted Vino to pull the T-Mobile move and attack Contador, I waited for it and waited. With all the horsepower that Contador had with him, why did he not throw down? Is that all Astana can do?

I'm going to beat a dead horse with this, but what about Ryder? He is hanging in, who knew? How do you have such a talent like that on a team and not know the GC potential? Is he a Cinderella story? I'm watching him just to see what he can do. Jonathan V has been using a thoroughbred to do draft horse work. ?????

Idea: How about we interview the riders after they get off the bike? Cameras OK, sticking a microphone in their face and mobbing them with stupid questions NOT OK. They just finished a million km, climbed to the moon and back, and Frankie A wants to ask how their day was after losing half an hour to the stage winner.

Rest Day tomorrow, I'll comb all the news I can and try and recap something, if not I'll make something up.

Stage 7

Ah le Alps

What is it about mountains? Mountaineers have always been asked the question "Why do you climb?" George Mallory said "Because it is there." Mountains add another antagonist to the man vs man struggle. Now le Tour is man vs man vs nature.

Fabian, you still rock in my book, man can you crush when it is a classics style race. Not to mention that whole TT thing that you do. En Fuego

Did this stage kill? I loved it, but I love when the escapees make a break for it and don't get caught. Chavanel was a one man wrecking crew, destroying everything in his path. Cunego, was not spared, he was the reason Chavanel launched. Cunego was picked to win the stage, but Chavanel put him down 3 min. You have to give it up to a guy who rides like he does (Jens like, just a little smother). If you see that guy get into a break, go with him, he will lead you to the promised land. There is only one problem DON'T GET DROPPED.

Chapeau! Chavanel

I don't know how many times I have to say it, but keep an eye on Ryder. Mountain bikers can ride. Anyone notice where the Rainbow Jersey is hiding out? Second Overall. He's got a freakin rainbow on a white jersey, and no one can seem to mark him. Paul and Phil can't even find him. Evans was a mountain biker. Go figure. Is there a theme here?

Can anyone tell the difference in Radio Shack and BMC's kits? Through in Caisse d'Epargne and you've got a giant blob of red, black and grey.

More climbs tomorrow with two Cat 1 climbs toward the end and one being a mountain top finish. We should see a big shake-up of the GC, and the "heads of state" should start attacking each other. Please attack, it is awesome when they attack, riders just marking each other is lame. We want an all out slug-fest.

Dust off the thong, get out the antler helmet, find the Devil, and please drink mass quantities of alcohol. It's time to get light headed in the Alps

Stage 6

Its all about Mark

Mark Renshaw, what you say? You hear the name somewhere between 3k to go and 200 meters, you see a white and yellow kit pulling (launching) another white and yellow kit for the win, but do we ever really see him? Have you ever watched an interview, or read one? Renshaw is like a gov't super weapon that is top secret, he is there but you have no knowledge of his existance. Renshaw is Area 51. How amazing is Mark? He launches Cavo the Manx Missile. Boom!!! it happened again. Sorry Garmin, you guys would have killed if the stage was 500 meters shorter, or if someone moved it 500m and did not tell HTC.

You have to hand it to Tyler, hanging onto Cavo's wheel with a bad elbow and still getting 2nd. At least Tyler has an excuse for getting spanked, he probably has a Dr.'s note excusing him from the ridicule. I hate it that he is not 100% to give Cavo a race. Thor? Do you need to phone a friend? Hope you are ready to give up the green, Jersey that is. Petacchi, and McEwen, "the old guys" even beat Thor to the line.

McEwen was taken out at the end of the race, or should I say after the race was over, an official "jumped in front of me". Can't this guy catch a break or is Karma pulling his card? After the race a couple of domistiques got into a little fisticuffs over a rubbed handlebar, maybe his handlebar was spoken for. ???? I'm just glad it didn't turn into a slap fight, we don't look b'd@ss slapping in spandex.

Stage 7 tomorrow.
Have you seen the profile? It looks like my heart rate after a shot of Espresso. It is flat and then It Bumps a LITTle IT BUMPS SoMe MORE AND THEN IT gets CRAZY. Three Cat 2's at the end with a somewhat uphill finish. Time to see le grimpeur do their things. Sorry Frank, hope you are healing well, would have loved to see you fly.

Stage 5

Flat Flat Sprinter's stage

The break got going at 5k of 187.5k. Really, do you have a chance? That is a long day with just 3 guys splitting the work. I don't want to ride 100k with 20 people sharing the work. They did it until two of them were caught with 6k to go, and the third attacked and was caught with 5k to go. At one point they held an 8min gap. The peloton was drinking coffee and eating donuts, then they had enough and started the chase at 100k to go.

HTC, Cervelo, and Lampre went to the "sharp end" and got the party started. The work that they put in erased the gap and it turned into a spectator friendly sprint. (sorry NASCAR fans no crashes) Cavo did go back in time (I know for a fact Marty helped with Doc's DeLorean) and found his legs from last year's Tour. I'm pretty sure that he had an "extra" gear on today that he didn't have yesterday. It was nice to see Cavo get emotional on the podium. All is well in the HTC camp.

Thor has a pretty good hold on the Green that Petacchi gave up today.
Fabian is still holding down the fort in Yellow and will for a few more days, unless something crazy happens (with this Tour who knows?) he will keep it until stage 7.

Can Ryder take over Garmin's GC spot? Do they have a choice? Work for that guy, he's got a killer name, and he can climb. Tyler is not doing too bad, even with a bummed wing.

Other than a couple of Cat 4 climbs toward the end, tomorrow should end in a sprint finish. So, does Cav have it back? Thor is in Green, but I'm not seeing the great sprinter. YET? He is consistent, I'll give him that.

Stage 4 Recap

Fabulous in Yellow

Sprinter stage yawn... no way, it's le Tour.

Neutral roll-out, early break, and a catch for the sprint finish. Done. not quite keep reading.

I absolutely love the break, most of the time it is guys you have never heard of getting out there to get a little TV time for the people who pay their rent. Sometimes you get a Ryder, a Chavanel in there and they do something magical. It is that chance, that ever so small percentage that is the thrill. To paraphrase Jens, they do it because if they don't then there is no chance. Plus if you really kick @$s you get to wear the RED ANGRY number the next day, which lets everyone know that you are not afraid to lay it down.

Sprinters caught the break with about 15-20k to go, big surprise there. The peloton could see the break up the road the whole day. Imagine looking over your shoulder for 145k and seeing the peloton just 2:00min back. That takes brass ones. The run it to the finish was so crazy fast, and no one crashed. HTC did their thing, Cervelo put some bodies up there and every other sprinter had at least one teammate with them.

Failure to launch, what happened to Cavo? Get over it, it is bike racing at it's best. You are only as good as your last race. Cavo, pick up your imaginary phone and dial up the Mannix Missile from 2009, because time travel is possible. Case in point: Alessandro Petacchi. Ali Jet went back in time and got his legs from 2003 (4 stage wins). Yeah, we all thought Stage 1 was a fluke, crash filled, no contenders, we will give the "old guy" a W. Enter Stage 4 with "all the heads of state" sprinting, and Petacchi did not steal one this time, HE OWNED IT!!!! Robbie "love or hate him" McEwen was on Petacchi's wheel and got wasted in the Jet wash, said "just didn't have the legs to come around". Right, you didn't have the legs, because they were RIPPED off 10meters from the finish. Thor? It's different when you are not sprinting Andy.

Not a Trivia question: Can anyone explain how 1k from the finish Garmin has no one in the same area code as the sprint, but they manage to get Dean and Hunter 2nd and 5th? They weren't even working together, they were on opposite sides of the bunch. Move Up, Work Together.

New face to check out, if you have not heard of him: Brent Bookwalter of BMC. He was with BMC before they got Evans and Hincappie. Give him a look.

Trivia Question: Is Footon-Servetto the worst looking kit in the Pro Peloton?

Stage 3

Cobbles, I love 'em and I hate 'em. The question is do they belong in a three week race, or save them for the classics? Talk amongst yourselves.

What a stage, my guy Frank hit the pave and broke his collarbone. Cobbles BAD I like Frank, he makes me look HUGE. ASO better apologize to Jens or he will attack and attack until he spins the world backward, goes back in time and destroys the ASO before they were born.

Chavanel looses the yellow because of multiple bike changes/flat tires. Cobbles BAD or BAD luck? Don't think for a min that he can't ride cobbles, he can Check out Flanders and Roubaix of '09 he put it down for his team. He is French, but rides for a Belgium squad. I say bad luck.

Saxo went FULL GAS and destroyed the field (looked like a classic). Cobbles Good Thor was in there, big surprise, Fabian owns the cobbles (really he does, he has two sitting on his mantel at home). Andy was glued to Fabian's wheel (tricky mechanics and tubular glue, sticky stuff, try getting it out of your jersey). Did I see a Rainbow jersey up there? I did I did see a Rainbow jersey. Where did Evans come from dude from down-under is killin' and no one is taking notice-- you better, this guy can podium. I will spare you the Contador/Lance line, you have already heard it 20 times by now.

Vino drops Contador (flat tire) in the last 250m. Mistake or Plan?

Ryder, Ryder, Ryder, there is something Canadian aboot that guy. Did you see the big hole in his jersey? He kept dropping HAMMERS out of it. He gets Caught by the World RR & TT Champs, and has enough left in the tank to hang on and then contest the sprint. Little known fact: Ryder was a b'dass MNT Biker.

Side Note: If Fabian was not babysitting he would have won the stage solo by 5min.

Trivia Question: Does Fabian look awesome in Yellow? How many days will he keep it?