I was wondering when the French-bashing would begin...I seriously doubt it was on purpose. The driver overcorrected to avoid the tree. He or she should not have been passing to begin with.

I rather like the tidbits about the chateaux and villages. It's great exposure for alot of very economically depressed small towns to have the Tour pass through. I've been watching Eurosport coverage and they don't give as much information on the regions and towns. I miss those stories.