Archives for July 2013

Sorry for not posting earlier, but I was busy riding and watching Le Tour. Chris Froome put his stamp on the race but looks far from a lock. His team disintegrated on yesterday’s stage. Some think it a ploy to put off any suspicion the team might be juicing, but I think they put in a hard effort the day before to give Froome the lead. The time-trials are ahead so we’ll see. I expect the Sky train to recover after the rest day and the next few flat stages and be ready for the Alps. Look for some stage hunters to grab the next few days. Look for Tejay to make a move one day. He’s so far behind as to not be a threat. I think Valverde may be holding back and I have Rui Da Costa on my fantasy team, so I’m hoping for him to break out. I think we’re in for some more great stages.

It looked like the peloton may have left it a little late to catch the breakaway, but now they look like they have it well in hand. My bet is on Cavendish today. Word is he had some bronchitis over the first days and after some antibiotics seems to be felling better. But Sagan is probably hungry after his second place. The breakaway is ahead by a bit more than the 1 minute per 10 km. They have an outside chance. It really stinks to be involved in a crash with less than 20 km left on a 230 km day! Christian Van de Velde may be out of the tour. Love the orange bike of Chavanel. It was made especially for him to match the orange Camero he owns. Omega is pegging it with 8 km left and 17 seconds behind. Cavendish gets number 24! And a crash on the finish line! Great stage today.

 

The team time trial has to be one of the most beautiful events in all of sports! The precision and speed is amazing. The Lampre team’s pink and blue looks impressive all lined up rolling along at over 60 kph. It’s hard to believe that over 25 km there is only a difference of 2 seconds between Omega and Sky. I think Sky will be happy to have another team defending the yellow until the Tour reaches the mountains. I love seeing Jens Voight lead out the RadioShack team. If one of my grandsons would race one day I would want Jens Voight to be their Director Sportif. Orica scorched the course beating Omega by a mere .75 seconds!! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie oy, oy, oy!! An average speed of 35.915 mph. That would put Simon Gerrans in yellow.

Hat’s off to RadioShack, especially Jens Voight for all the work they did to keep the breakaways in check and keep Bakelants in yellow. Peter Sagan threw his bike at the line just a fraction too early and was pipped by Simon Gerrans at the finish. But Geraint Thomas has my respect for finishing riding the stage with a fractured hip.

After the debacle of stage 1; stage 2 transpired without much drama. Except for the drama of a young Dutch rider, Jan Bakelants winning his first pro race AND putting on the yellow jersey. Peter Sagan almost caught him but 1 second gave Bakelants the yellow. Gotta feel for Tony Martin riding with a bruised lung. These guys are real warriors! Geraint Thomas is riding with a crack in his pelvis!