Tour talk -- Spoiler alert

[tctrek]

Agree on Vino. He worked his butt off for that win. He's a beast!

[ny biker]

I think, good for Vino, he certainly worked for that win, but -- Contador needs his team to work hard over the next few days in the mountains, so I wonder if maybe he left too much out on the road today and yesterday? I guess they're counting more on the pure climbers for support.

[BikeDutchess]

Here's an interview with Andy Schleck - I like this guy. The interview is in English, starting at 0:21.
http://nos.nl/video/172720-its-not-e...y-schleck.html

[Zen]

I like him too.
I can't see him going the big ego route.

[redrhodie]

I think, good for Vino, he certainly worked for that win, but -- Contador needs his team to work hard over the next few days in the mountains, so I wonder if maybe he left too much out on the road today and yesterday? I guess they're counting more on the pure climbers for support.

I was waiting to see how this would work out. I guess he left nothing on the road! He must eat nails for breakfast.

I'm still routing for a stage for Vasil Kiryienka. Good for him for trying again today.

This is such a great tour. Go Andy!

[arielmoon]

Vino is impressive that is for sure.

Here's an interview with Andy Schleck - I like this guy. The interview is in English, starting at 0:21.
http://nos.nl/video/172720-its-not-e...y-schleck.html

Oh he so adorable!!

I am wondering about his strategy. He has been covering Contador's attacks but he needs more than a 31" buffer for the time trial. Realistically he needs several minutes!

[Eden]

My hubby figures Andy needs to wait until the *last* climb to make his move. If he gains time before then Berto will then attack him on the next one, so Andy's best strategy is to cover Berto until the last major climb and hedge his bets on being able to gain some time on that one. And also - that last climb is the Tourmalet - and its a doozy, so saving his energy and just marking Berto in anticipation of that day is probably not such a bad idea.

[tctrek]

Another rider turned himself inside-out today - wow, I didn't know Christophe Riblon but he rode his heart out. I like that the French are having a good tour and every day is an exciting race.

[loopybunny]

I'm still waiting for Levi Leipheimer to make a move. I really want to be able to say I've "ridden with" a Tour de France winner, not just that I've been dropped by the son of one.

[Skierchickie]

Who besides Andy Schleck could say "If anybody wants to drop me tomorrow, they'll have to be good", and just make me love him even more? I soooo want him to put some time on Contador. At his age - is it possible that he's the next Armstrong/Indurain/Merxx? His potential just seems unlimited.

On the other hand, I just can NOT trust Vino. Not after what he pulled a couple of years ago. The harder he pulls, the more days in a row, the less I trust him. Of all the dopers, I think I trust him the least. After his entire team got thrown out for doping, then he got himself on another team the next year, rode just like he's been riding for the past week, and - whaddaya know - got caught doping. To me that says he was determined to do it. Thrown out once already, but thought he could get away with it. Yeah, it's possible that he's clean now, but I have no reason to believe him. I think that as a cycling fan I feel more betrayed by him than by any of the others.

Go Andy & Levi!

[loopybunny]

On the other hand, I just can NOT trust Vino. Not after what he pulled a couple of years ago. The harder he pulls, the more days in a row, the less I trust him. Of all the dopers, I think I trust him the least. After his entire team got thrown out for doping, then he got himself on another team the next year, rode just like he's been riding for the past week, and - whaddaya know - got caught doping.

I asked yesterday, if Vino can ride like he has the last couple of days, why in the world did he ever dope?

Makes me wonder if he was honest and never did dope or if he's still doping. I don't trust him either. (Didn't he more or less admit to doping after that big win earlier in the year when everyone booed him?)

However, one of the biggest things that bothers me about him is his attitude. When he first came off of suspension at his first race he wore a jersey with a huge picture of himself on it that said "Vino forever" or something like that. Wow.

[Aggie_Ama]

Very cool - and what a HILL they had to climb

I don't have Versa, but am on the final day of house-cat sitting for a friend. They have it. I think the cat needs more company, yeah, that's it! The cat needs more company because he is lonely and stuff - so will head back this evening to see the prime-time coverage. They even said I can sleep there if I want (I do not want) so I know they won't mind.

It is good we live in the same apartment complex...

Can't let the cat get lonely

My cat is actually does get lonely! She has a dog like personality - greets you at the door, wants to be with you every minute (okay until your cat is staring at you shaving your legs) and looks depressed when we leave. She can tell by our packing and seems to pout. I used to be able to get a friend to come by and entertain my animals because she didn't have cable.

Today's stage was good. I was hoping Menchov would gain more time and Sastre wouldn't get caught. I loved Riblon winning, he looked like he might cry!

[Aquila]

Amazing stage today. Sad for Andy Schleck, but he was doing an amazing job catching up until the downhill. And he seems to have real class (from his interview after).

[Catrin]

Amazing stage today. Sad for Andy Schleck, but he was doing an amazing job catching up until the downhill. And he seems to have real class (from his interview after).

What happened? Ummm, probable too early to tell me I don't have access to Versus, but am sure there will be something online tonight when I get home...

[redrhodie]

That was so stressful! My stomach was in a knot from the point when his chain went off right until the end. Talk about bad luck. But, as much as I'm a fan of Andy, I felt a little bad for AC for the crowd's reaction. I don't think he had much choice but to race, given the place of Menchov and Sanchez.