Another ho-hum stage in Le Tour. At one point on the final climb, Super Spaniard and Schleckalecka were practically track-standing, doing an Alphonse-and-Gaston number. I thought that at any moment they might actually leap off their bikes and dance the tango. It must be fun for the Astana boys to tow Contador all over France to watch him play footsie with Schleck in the mountains and wait for that final time trial, when he won’t need any help to kick that skinny Luxembourger’s ass.
Big props to Carlos Sastre for trying to relive 2003. Also to Christophe Riblon for continuing the fine French performance in their national tour by winning the stage. Likewise to Denis Menchov and Sammy Sanchez for ripping their legs off in a battle for what seems certain to be the third step on the podium, just below the dancing masters.
But the Mad Dog propeller beanie is most definitely not lifted to either Contador or Schleck. Not yet. One of these guys has to show some panache or I’m buying a set of golf clubs.
Mad Blog Media 
Jeepers. I’m on the road for the family vacation and so I wasn’t able to tune in until this evening. Gotta say I agree that this Tour is kinda boring, as far as the yellow jersey race goes. But the Green Jersey? Ooh baby. Changing hands every day. duking it out at the intermediate sprints. Each rider pursuing different strategies. And the names? THOOOORRRRRRR, the Thunder God! Let-it-all-hang-out riding. Patrick, maybe you could prod the Lawyer to provide more background/analysis on the Green Jersey race.
And since I see birthdays are in order, Robin Williams is turning 59 this week. Bike nut, old guy, FOL (Friend of Lance). Well, two out of three ain’t bad. Enough money that he can answer the question for himself of who makes the best bike or best gruppo by just buying them all. And the time to ride them.
I have to apologize to Patrick. This Tour isn’t keeping me glued in front of the web site.
While he was suffering on the wheel of the laptop, I was off riding my bike through the hotter than Hell hills of Northern New Mexico. After fifty miles and 5,000 feet of climbing (including the Fat Slob Category I climb out of the Bandelier National Park Snack Bar along Bleached Bones Road, and the Hors Turkey climb up Camp May Road in a hailstorm) I did check in on the VN site to see who had done what to whom and turned on the TV as I gulped down a bottle of water, iced my knees, and kicked down a bottle of V8 while the wine and beer cooled down in the fridge.
The track stand was funny. I was hoping someone would crash and fuck up the road in front of the Dynamic Duo so the 3rd and 4th folks on the road could ride off with the yellow jersey.
Thank heavens for Riblon’s ride!
Chapeau to the French guys who are winning some stages! We’re still here in It’ly enjoying being in the mountains out of the blazing heat below. Riding the road bikes, MTB’s or just hiking around in the woods for a couple hours before lunch, then tuning in and snoozing through Le Beeg Shew on RAI 3. Patrick, DON’T buy any golf clubs, please! Next year Vincenzo Nibali will be in France during July and he should liven things up with his attacking style. The points battle is certainly more interesting — of course we’re cheering for Ale-Jet since he’s Italian but the Mighty Thor wears Vittoria shoes made by our friends in Biella — so we like him too. Either way it’s great to see RACING and tactics vs psych-out games and near-track stands. Damiano Cunego was going to make a run at the climber’s jersey but seems to have run out of gas — makes one think he must be one of the non-dopers, as he claims. Ciao for now, pranzo time…pasta with eggplant parmesan,a little vino, fresh bread and some fruit before the espresso which helps us stay awake during LeTour.
Just followed stage 15 on Velonews. Apparently the love affair between Al and Andy is over.
Interesting commentary over here in Italia during Stage 15. Davide Cassani and Francesco Pancani are much different than Shiggett and Lerwen. I wondered to myself what the heck lil’ Andy was doing when he attacked in what looked like a way-too-big gear. It looked like he realized it too and tried to drop down to the small ring and like often happens going down a gap of more than 10 teeth on the chainrings under pressure, the chain dropped. Then he panicked and fumbled around trying to put it back on. This is the same guy the entire peloton waited for earlier and the same guy who convinced Contador to take it easy on him on a fast descent a few days ago. Now he drops his chain like a newbie cyclist and whines that nobody waited for him. How many gifts does this kid need to win Le Beeg Shew? So far he’s demonstrated competence in only ONE of cycling’s disciplines — riding uphill. He’s world-class in whining too but he’s not very good at descending, (Davide Cassani pointed this out over and over with a critique of his technique compared to Paolo Savoldelli in the past)can’t ride well on cobbles and seemingly can’t operate a simple bicycle very well. Does a rider like this even deserve to win cycling’s biggest prize?
I guess that is the Curse of White Jersey of Inexperience.
My big beef? On VN’s home page, you see a picture of this hot chick in a white gossamer dress advertising the Velocenter video, but when you click on it expecting to see more of her, you get these two nondescript white guys babbling on. Truth in advertising?
Look, we’ve all been there, either we have this nice new yellow or even nicer new white jersey–looks great, feels great, then what happens…the damn chain falls off, if you’re like me or Andy you don’t dare get grease on that pimpin’ jersey and so you have to what for a team mechanic to bring the tools to get zee chain back on! Hey! my friends didn’t wait-up for me, REVENGE!
Ah, yes, what does one do when the proverbial chain falls off? Sucks even worse with these compact cranks that we feebs are using. I dropped the chain in a Tuesday evening race-to-the-back-of-the-bomb-factory TT a couple weeks ago doing the same thing–trying to get out of too big a gear on a climb when my lungs crapped out and legs fell off.
At any rate, I hope it just makes Andy mad. Recall TCWSNBN getting snagged on that musette bag back a few years, going down hard on his ass, and I think, winning the stage?
And don’t forget to send Dick Cheney a get-well card.